A United States-based aviation attorney says Boeing's 737-800 aircrafts have had repeated problems with their brakes, spoilers and thrust reversers in recent years.

American Airlines Flight 331, which overshot the runway at the Norman Manley International Airport last week, is a 737-800.

"This particular model plane has had several incidents in which there was delayed deployment of the brakes, thrust reversers and spoilers," Chicago-based attorney Manuel Von Ribbeck told The Gleaner yesterday.

Ribbeck, who is in the island to discuss legal representation for victims of the crash, pointed out that the 737-800 has been involved in six accidents since 2006.

Reliable and efficient

American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner said he could not confirm the information as his company does not keep records of all the incidents involving the 737-800.

However, he said "In our experience, the 737-800 has been a reliable and efficient airplane."

Director general of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority, Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Derby, told The Gleaner yesterday that his investigations turned up just one accident in Latin America and the Caribbean involving the 737-800.

He said representatives of Boeing and General Electric are also assisting with the investigation.

Ribbeck becomes the second attorney who has taken an interest in the incident. Local attorney-at-law, Ambassador Anthony Hylton, confirmed Monday that he is representing more than 10 of the 148 passengers who were on Flight 331 when it careened off the runway, stopping across the Port Royal main road just metres from the sea.