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FAA -- Billy Wasn't Wearing a Seat Belt on Plane

Posted Jun 28th 2009 12:58PM by TMZ Staff

Billy MaysThe FAA is already deflecting blame for the death of Billy Mays -- claiming the legendary TV pitchman wasn't wearing a seat belt when he took a shot to the head during a rough landing on a flight he was on yesterday.

Here's what we know -- Billy Mays was aboard US Airways Flight 1241 flying from Philadelphia, which landed roughly when the front tire blew out as it touched down. After the flight, Billy told FOX 13 in Tampa that something struck him in the head -- here's Billy's actual quote:

"All of a sudden as we hit you know it was just the hardest hit, all the things from the ceiling started dropping. It hit me on the head, but I got a hard head."

We called the FAA for comment, and a spokesperson told us, "The passenger needs to wear a seat belt during landing and he didn't."

A spokesperson for US Airways did not want to comment until more information comes to light.

Billy posted about it last on his Twitter last night, saying, "Just had a close call landing in Tampa. The tires blew out upon landing. Stuck in the plane on the runway. You can always count on US Air."

Tags: billy mays, BillyMays, dead, faa, oxiclean, pitchman

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16. Talk about deflection... how would his seat belt have helped when heavy luggage was hitting him in the head? So because he broke a flight rule, the airline isn't responsible for his death?? Clearly they are scrambling. I hope his family gets a nice settlement and I hope other passengers get checked out!

Posted at 1:16PM on Jun 28th 2009 by Leslie

17. Wearing a seatbelt and having things fall on your head are not related. The airline should have thought before making such a statement. Whether or not Mr. Mays had on a seatbelt or not has no relevance to the fact that things fells on his head. While wearing my seatbelt, on a flight, the overhead compartment opened and the crew demonstration pack hit me square on the head. It had nothing to do with whether or not I was wearing my seatbelt.

Epidural Hematoma--the "talking dead" disease. One minute the person is fine, the next they are dead. Such a tragedy1

Posted at 1:09PM on Jun 28th 2009 by TheMomLady

18. awesome Peterson32, way to be the biggest jerk ever. I'm sure people get annoyed by you sometimes too, but do you think they'll say those kinds of things when you die?

Posted at 5:50PM on Jun 28th 2009 by Aubrey

19. We called the FAA for comment, and a spokesperson told us, "The passenger needs to wear a seat belt during landing and he didn't."

There's a caring response to Billy's death!!!!! Let's see, if I go fly tomorrow, and it's a rough landing, and people's luggage start falling from the small cabinets above the seats, and it hits me on the head and kills me, I had better have been wearing my seat belt! A*holes.

Posted at 1:18PM on Jun 28th 2009 by Jstbtrflyz

20. If he had his seatbelt on he would have had less of a chance, by not being able to dodge the object that fell on him. He looks like a Baldwin brother.

Posted at 1:09PM on Jun 28th 2009 by sherlock

21. One of the greatest baseball players of all time

Posted at 1:11PM on Jun 28th 2009 by Chuck D of Valpo

22. even if thats the case, it's the flight attendants job to make sure he is wearing it.

Posted at 1:10PM on Jun 28th 2009 by Jee

23. They need to investigate weather the seat belt would have made a difference and if he was even wearing it. Last I checked, seat belts don't stop falling object from hitting you on the head. Maybe the over heard compartment wasn't shut. Unless he was ejected from his seat, I don't see the seat belt claim going very far

Posted at 1:10PM on Jun 28th 2009 by Elise

24. THIS WAS GREAT TV SHOW. NO TRIBUTE ON DISCOVERY TODAY ????????????????????????

Posted at 1:14PM on Jun 28th 2009 by AA

25. WOW IS ALL I CAN SAY! R.I.P. BILLY! WE WILL MISS YOUR VOICE ON YOUR INFORMATIONALS. I ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A SEATBELT IS GOING TO KEEP OBJECTS FROM FALLING ON YOUR HEAD. HE MUST HAVE HIT HIS HEAD REALLY HARD....................

Posted at 1:10PM on Jun 28th 2009 by life is like that

26. How sad. Prayers to his fam. I think the autospy is going to reveal a subdural hematoma.

Posted at 7:19PM on Jun 28th 2009 by lisad71

27. Peterson32: The way you type and articulate, you should have choked on Lincoln Logs at an early age.

Posted at 1:11PM on Jun 28th 2009 by ThinPetersonFromTheHerd

28. Riiiiight, not having a seat belt caused the tire to blow, the "secure" bins to bust open and crap to pelt the man. Whatever, settle now US Air.

Posted at 1:11PM on Jun 28th 2009 by OK then

29. How did they know that he was not wearing a seat belt? Were the flight attendants walking the aisles during the landing?

Posted at 1:25PM on Jun 28th 2009 by Kristal

30. His casket will be spotless and lemon scented.

Posted at 1:13PM on Jun 28th 2009 by Better than you

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