New York — In a landmark decision, a New York jury has awarded $116 million to the family of Trevor Cadigan, a 26-year-old journalist who perished along with four others when a doors-off helicopter malfunctioned and crashed into the East River in March 2018. This comes after legal proceedings that shone a light on crucial safety oversights by aerial tour operators.
Cadigan, who had recently relocated to New York City from Dallas, was on board the sightseeing flight with his friend Brian McDaniel, a firefighter, to enjoy views of Manhattan when the tragic incident occurred. Other victims included Carla Vallejos Blanco, 29; Tristan Hill, 29; and Daniel Thompson, 34. The fatal crash was a result of a flotation device failing and a passenger’s harness tether accidentally shutting off the helicopter’s fuel supply, causing the helicopter to rapidly sink.
Jurors found FlyNYON, the company responsible for arranging the flight, 42% at fault, while Liberty Helicopters, which owned and operated the aircraft, was deemed 38% responsible. Another 20% of the blame was attributed to Dart Aerospace, the manufacturer of the malfunctioning flotation device. According to federal investigators, a critical design flaw was linked to the inability of passengers to free themselves from their harnesses, trapping them as the helicopter submerged.
The legal action illuminated glaring issues within the aerial tourism sector, particularly concerning doors-off flights that offer passengers unobstructed views and photo opportunities — known as “sneaker selfies” of feet dangling above scenic views. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has criticized FlyNYON for installing harnesses difficult to escape and circumventing stricter safety regulations under the guise of using the flights for purposes such as newsgathering or film shoots, instead of tourism.
Subsequent to the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily halted doors-off flights that used restrictive harness systems. New regulations were introduced requiring restraints that could be released quickly with a single action, a direct result of the findings from the NTSB investigation.
The emotional toll on the victims’ families was enormous. Jerry Cadigan, Trevor’s father and a Dallas broadcast journalist, passed away without seeing the trial’s conclusion but was aware that justice was on the horizon, according to the family’s lawyer, Gary C. Robb. His tragic loss compounded the grief for the Cadigan family, highlighting the prolonged and often painful path to legal resolution.
The Cadigan family’s legal victory is seen by many as a step towards enhancing safety standards and accountability in the expanding industry of commercial aerial tours. It raises pressing questions about the adequacy of current regulatory frameworks and the ethical considerations of businesses prioritizing commercial gain over safety.
As this story emerges, it underlines the importance of stringent safety regulations and oversight in commercial aviation to prevent such tragedies in the future. It also serves as a poignant reminder of the personal losses that lie behind corporate and regulatory failures.
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