MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Seventy-five-year-old Julio Pineda was affectionately known as “El Mago,” the magician.
On Sunday, he was among the five cleaning company workers killed when a cargo plane, operated by 21 Air on behalf of Amazon, careened off the runway at Miami International Airport, slamming into their work van.
His sons have now hired attorneys to help them navigate the legal process and to find answers after their father’s life was cut short.
“The first thing when we met his family, (they said) ‘If he was here, he’d be someone you’d never forget,’” Mark Lopez-Trigo, an attorney with the firm Padrón & Lopez Trigo said.
Lopez-Trigo’s firm partner, Joshua Padrón, said Pineda was “loved by all” and “the life of the party.”
“This was an outstanding man, who was very community-oriented,” Lopez-Trigo added. “(He) loved his family, loved his grandkids and nobody has a bad thing to say about him.”
His sons are now left trying to make sense of a tragedy they never saw coming. The two attorneys said they’re still trying to gather information before deciding what legal action to take.
“Once we have a better understanding of all of the issues, that will allow us to file a complaint that we feel will have stronger legs to be able to survive through the legal system and give our clients the best shot at justice,” Lopez-Trigo said.
Authorities identified the four other victims as Carlos Acosta Fajardo, 53; Rolando Aleman Leon, 55; Javierkys Reyes Quevedo, 47; and Yoel Rodriguez Naranjo, 53.
Some of their families are also taking legal action.
Eugenio Corredor, 79, was one of the injured victims. He was left badly hurt after the plane crashed into his Toyota Corolla Cross SUV as he drove down Northwest 67th Avenue.
The law firms representing the victims’ families plan to conduct their own investigation at the same time the National Transportation Safety Board probes the crash.
Padrón said, “We have already seen multiple reports of pilots that worked for 21 Air that have mentioned the history of improper procedure, protocol, maintenance, a multitude of worries and concerns already voiced about this company, so if you have information on that, please reach out to us.”
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