A jury in New York has awarded $116 million to the family of one of the five individuals who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash that occurred when the aircraft plunged into the East River. The incident left passengers trapped in their safety harnesses as the helicopter sank rapidly.
According to reports, the helicopter’s fall was triggered by a passenger tether, designed to prevent falls from the open doors, becoming entangled with a fuel shutoff switch located on the floor, which led to an engine failure. Federal investigators noted that the helicopter began sinking within seconds after the crash.
While the pilot, who was restrained by a seatbelt, managed to escape and survive the ordeal, the five passengers did not make it out.
Messages requesting comments were sent to the legal representatives of the victim’s family, as well as to the companies found liable by the jury. The jury determined that FlyNYON, the company that organized the flight, and Liberty Helicopters, the operator of the helicopter, were responsible for the tragedy. Additionally, some liability was assigned to Dart Aerospace, the manufacturer of a flotation device that failed during the crash.
