Professor Claims Plane Left Him with Brain Damage, Sues for $40 Million

A man is suing Boeing after claiming he suffered serious brain damage from toxic fumes while flying on one of the company’s aircraft.

Jonathan Harris, a law professor based in Los Angeles, is seeking $40 million from the aerospace giant, alleging that exposure to fumes onboard a Boeing 737 left him with lasting health problems. The incident happened last year during a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles.

According to the lawsuit, Harris says the cabin filled with a strong smell of engine oil shortly after takeoff. He claims he struggled to breathe and began vomiting while still on the plane.

The day after the flight, Harris says he was hospitalized, where doctors reportedly found low oxygen levels and elevated levels of bicarbonate and carbon monoxide in his blood. He alleges the exposure caused neurological damage that continues to affect his daily life.

Harris, who teaches at Loyola Law School, says he can no longer stand for long periods and now teaches his classes while seated because of ongoing balance issues. Once an avid runner, he claims his instability caused him to fall and break his ankle.

The lawsuit also states that Harris now avoids flying whenever possible and refuses to board a plane without wearing a gas mask. He continues to experience frequent headaches and has been prescribed an inhaler to help manage chest tightness, according to reporting by the Daily Mail.

Harris further alleges that flight attendants dismissed his requests to evacuate passengers after the plane landed, even as the odor continued to spread through the cabin.

So-called “fume events,” in which cabin air becomes contaminated with engine oil or other chemicals, are believed by experts to occur on aircraft around the world on a regular basis. According to aviation authorities, possible long-term effects of exposure can include headaches, fatigue, weakness, balance problems, memory issues, and psychological symptoms such as poor concentration and depression.

Despite these concerns, airlines in the U.S. are not currently required to formally record or report fume events. NASA data shows 362 voluntarily reported incidents between January 2018 and December 2019, during which nearly 400 passengers and crew members sought medical treatment.

In one high-profile case in 2020, a British Airways pilot told the BBC that he had to take control of a flight just minutes before landing after the co-pilot became incapacitated following a fume event. While the airline denied the co-pilot collapsed, it confirmed a Mayday call was made.

The lawsuit remains ongoing, and Boeing has not publicly commented on the specific allegations.