Mechanic sues St. Louis Regional Airport Authority over injuries

An airplane mechanic is suing the owner of the Bethalto airport after he allegedly fell off a jet while working on the engine.

Michael C. Pagano filed a lawsuit May 10 in Madison County Circuit Court against St. Louis Regional Airport Authority.

Pagano says he was working as a mechanic for West Star Aviation in May 2012 and was repairing a plane in one of the hangars at Bethalto airport. According to the complaint, Pagano was standing on the pylon of the jet engine, the area where the engine attaches to the plane, when he slipped and fell ten feet to the concrete floor.

Pagano accuses the St. Louis Regional Airport Authority of negligence for not providing safety harnesses, lanyards or nets to protect employees if they should fall while working on an engine. He asks for more than $50,000 in damages for medical expenses, loss of income and costs of the lawsuit.

Attorney Ronald S. Motil of Glen Carbon represents Pagano.

Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-737