A New York jury has awarded $116 million to the family of one of the five victims killed in a tragic helicopter crash that occurred in the East River in 2018. The helicopter, which had open doors for an aerial photography tour, plunged into the water after a passenger’s tether accidentally triggered a fuel shutoff switch, causing the engine to fail.
The victims, all passengers on the sightseeing flight, were trapped by their safety harnesses as the helicopter sank into the river. The pilot, who was wearing a conventional seatbelt, managed to escape and survive the crash, but all five passengers were unable to free themselves and drowned.
According to federal investigators, the accident was caused when the tether, designed to prevent passengers from falling out of the open-door helicopter, became entangled with a floor-mounted fuel shutoff switch. The aircraft rapidly began to sink, leaving the passengers no time to escape.
The jury placed blame on several entities for the fatal incident, including FlyNYON, the company that arranged the flight, and Liberty Helicopters, which owned the aircraft and provided the pilot. Dart Aerospace, the manufacturer of the flotation device that malfunctioned during the crash, was also found partly liable.
Efforts to contact representatives of the companies involved have so far been unsuccessful. This case marks a significant legal development in the aftermath of the devastating crash, as it underscores the importance of safety measures in open-door helicopter tours.
