Naga Antiques, a New York art gallery, claims the paintings were “soaked” during a mid-storm plane transfer in Honolulu
NEED TO KNOW
- Eleven Japanese artworks were allegedly damaged in a rainstorm while being transported to New York by Alaska Airlines, according to a complaint obtained by PEOPLE
- Damage to the original paintings exceed $521,900, according to the lawsuit
- The insurance company that reimbursed the gallery is now seeking damages, interest and legal fees from the airline
A New York state art gallery is suing Alaska Airlines after the carrier allegedly allowed 11 pieces of Japanese artwork to sustain over half a million dollars in damages during a plane transfer in Honolulu.
Eleven original paintings were supposed to travel from Osaka, Japan, to New York City back in March, according to a civil complaint filed in the New York County Supreme Court obtained by PEOPLE. Naga Antiques LTD, a self-described “premier destination for antique furniture and Japanese screens” in Hudson, N.Y., used Compass Forwarding Co., in contract with Alaska Airlines, to bring the artwork to John F. Kennedy Airport, per the complaint.
While en route from Osaka to New York, a Hawaiian Airlines plane, operated by Alaska Airlines’ wholly-owned subsidiary, reportedly made a stop in Honolulu. There, the company allegedly “deplaned the artworks during a heavy rainstorm and made no effort to protect the artworks from water damage.” According to the complaint, the artworks were packed in cardboard crates.
“As a result, the artworks were soaked and sustained significant damage,’ the complaint says…