The family of a Texas man who died in a tragic helicopter crash in New York’s East River in 2018 has been awarded $116 million in a verdict handed down this week. The crash, which killed five passengers, sparked multiple lawsuits and raised questions about the safety protocols of the helicopter tour industry.
The verdict is the result of a lawsuit filed by the family of Trevor Cadigan, a 26-year-old journalist from Dallas, Texas, who was one of the passengers on the fatal flight. The helicopter, operated by Liberty Helicopters, went down after a harness system, designed for aerial photography flights, became entangled and inadvertently cut off fuel to the engine. Cadigan and four other passengers were trapped in the sinking aircraft, unable to release themselves from the tight safety harnesses. Only the pilot survived after managing to free himself.
The $116 million judgment is seen as a significant ruling, holding both Liberty Helicopters and the manufacturer of the helicopter’s harness system accountable for the crash. During the trial, attorneys for the Cadigan family argued that the harness system, which required passengers to use a cutting tool to free themselves in an emergency, was fatally flawed. They also contended that the company failed to adequately train passengers on how to use the harness in a life-or-death situation.
“This verdict sends a clear message that safety must come first,” the Cadigan family’s attorney said in a statement following the ruling. “No family should have to endure what the Cadigans have gone through. We hope this judgment brings some measure of justice.”
The East River crash, which was widely reported at the time, led to new safety regulations for open-door helicopter flights, including stricter guidelines on the use of harnesses and safety equipment. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) previously found that the helicopter’s emergency floatation devices deployed correctly, but the harness system trapped the passengers, contributing to their inability to escape the sinking aircraft.
Liberty Helicopters, which has been involved in other accidents prior to the 2018 crash, has faced significant legal challenges and public scrutiny since the incident. While the company has maintained that it followed all safety regulations, the jury’s decision in this case underscores the growing concern over the safety practices of helicopter tour operators in New York City and beyond.
The $116 million award is expected to cover both compensatory and punitive damages, with the intent to ensure that no such tragedy happens again due to preventable safety failures.
