Etihad and Lufthansa face $360 million law suit

Etihad and Lufthansa face $360 million law suit

Both Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Germany's Lufthansa are being sued in the US for $360 million by an American security contractor who was falsely...

July 29, 2009 12:08 by Dana El Baltaji

Both Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Germany’s Lufthansa are being sued in the US for $360 million by an American security contractor who was falsely imprisoned in the UAE after being accused of arms trafficking, reports The National.

James Hunter’s ordeal began in July 2008 while on assignment to provide arms to Baghdad’s airport in effort to improve security measures. He flew with his legally-declared supply of arms on a United Airlines flight to Frankfurt, with the intention of taking a Lufthansa flight to Dubai, and an Iraqi plane from Dubai to Baghdad.

However, Lufthansa cancelled its flight, forcing Hunter to fly with Etihad to Abu Dhabi. Lufthansa agents advised him to take the bus from Abu Dhabi to Dubai.

Hunter was subsequently arrested on arrival, and spent 60 days in police custody.

Etihad insists Hunter, a former employee of Global Strategies Group, did not declare he was carrying arms to airline staff. “He also failed to receive the necessary approvals from the UAE government for transporting firearms into the UAE,” an airline spokesman said.

Tags: etihad, Global Strategies Group, James Hunter, law suit, Lufthansa

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1 Comment

J Thomas on July 30, 2009 3:16 pm

How come an American can sue Etihad in USA for an alleged lapse in the UAE, whist an Emarati cannot sue United or TWA in Dubai for a alleged lapse while in USA? Can an Indian sue Emirates in Bombay (mumbai) for something that happened to him while flying over copenhagen in an emirates flight?

I feel American laws are special laws.