Over the weekend, a passenger airplane experienced a catastrophic engine failure showering engine parts over multiple neighborhoods. Almost as soon as social media started showing pictures of airplane parts in people's yards, insurance social media started talking about coverage for property damage caused by those parts. So here we are. Since a lot of yards are involved, let's look at the homeowners policy.

In section I of the policy, under property not covered, aircraft, including any parts whether or not attached to aircraft, are not covered. However this does not mean airplane parts falling from the sky are not covered; like motor vehicles, this is referring to aircraft an insured might own, not one losing parts as it flies overhead.

Next we come to debris removal. This coverage is for removal of covered property if a peril insured against damages the insured's property. So we have to continue to determine if falling airplane debris is a covered peril. Remember under the HO 00 03 coverage is open perils for Coverages A and B. There is no exclusion for falling objects from the sky, be they hail, airplane parts, UFOs or whatever. So any damage from falling airplane parts to the dwelling, as well as removal of the parts or other debris, is covered.