Air-pump mishap prompts lawsuit against Flying J

A Texas man filed a lawsuit earlier this month against a Tucumcari travel center after he said he was injured when an air pump hose exploded in his hand.

Mikhail Franklin of El Paso filed the suit on Nov. 7 in Tucumcari district court against Pilot Travel Centers LLC, which owns and operates the Flying J Travel Center on South Mountain Road in Tucumcari.

The lawsuit states Franklin was at the Flying J on July 25, 2021, when he attempted to use an air pump machine that “unexpectedly exploded in his grasp without warning.”

It stated there was no warning or indication the pump was defective or dangerous.

Franklin suffered “significant” abrasions and burns to his arm.

The lawsuit alleges negligence by Flying J and requests punitive damages, plus court costs.

The suit was filed on behalf of Franklin by Ricardo F. Roybal of the Dominguez Law Firm in Albuquerque.