Lawsuit Filed After Ice Chunk from Plane Crashes Through California Home Roof

LOS ANGELES—A couple from California is taking legal action against JetBlue after narrowly dodging a potentially fatal incident when a block of ice, reportedly the size of a watermelon, fell from a commercial airplane and crashed through the roof of their Inglewood residence, narrowly missing their bed, as detailed in court documents obtained on Tuesday.

The ice reportedly plummeted around 8 p.m. on January 1, 2024, from a JetBlue Airbus on a flight from New York City’s JFK International Airport to LAX, prompting the couple to relocate out of fear of another incident, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles.

Following the close call, homeowners Michael Reese and Leah Ferrarini began to “cringe in fear with each plane that flew over their house, which occurs roughly every five minutes,” the complaint claims. It asserts that they are unable to “sleep comfortably … without recalling the incident.”

The lawsuit argues that ongoing insomnia forced Reese to decline job opportunities as a commercial driver in the television and film industry.

“The occurrence has rendered them anxious and depressed, feeling unsafe in what was once their dream home,” states the lawsuit filed Thursday after being moved from Los Angeles Superior Court.

The complaint, which alleges that the ice caused over $300,000 in damages to their home located near LAX, seeks a total of $1 million in compensation for emotional distress, pain, suffering, and inconvenience, as well as present and future medical expenses.

In a statement on Tuesday, a representative from JetBlue remarked, “Our top priority at JetBlue is safety, which informs all our actions. Given that this matter is under litigation, we cannot comment further.”

The airline maintained in court documents that it is not responsible for any damages, asserting compliance with all “laws, governmental regulations, and industry norms.”

An investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration discovered that a review of the aircraft’s maintenance and engineering records highlighted a history of potable water issues dating back to July 2023. Additionally, the aircraft was believed to have released ice onto a property in Shirley, Massachusetts, in August 2023, according to the lawsuit.