New York — In a landmark verdict, a Manhattan Supreme Court jury has awarded $116 million to Nancy Cadigan, the mother of Trevor Cadigan, a 26-year-old aspiring journalist who perished in a helicopter crash in March 2018. The decision marks the largest ever payout for a single wrongful death case in New York State history. Trevor Cadigan was among five passengers who drowned when their doors-off helicopter tour spiraled into the East River.
The tragic incident occurred near East 88th Street, leaving only the pilot alive. The helicopter, owned by Liberty Helicopter and operated by charter company FLYNYON, was equipped with a harness system that later became central to the allegations of negligence following the crash. Trevor, strapped into this restrictive system, was unable to escape, leading to his untimely death.
Originally co-plaintiffs, both of Trevor’s parents pursued the lawsuit; however, Trevor’s father, Jerry, a broadcast journalist himself, passed away at the age of 72 in July before the verdict could be rendered. His death added a poignant note to the family’s quest for justice.
During the three-month long trial, Kansas City-based attorney Gary C. Robb represented the Cadigans. He commended the jury for their decision to hold accountable the parties involved for what he described as their “immoral and reckless actions.” Robb stated that the doors-off helicopter tour operators had knowingly placed Trevor and others in what he called a “death trap” with a makeshift harness system that offered no feasible means of escape in an emergency water landing situation.
The court heard how these types of aerial tours, which offer expansive vistas for photography enthusiasts keen to capture cityscapes with their legs dangling overhead, necessitate more complex harnesses and tethers than those found in typical helicopters. In the event of a crash, these systems become nearly impossible to release, significantly increasing the risk of fatality.
The sole survivor of the crash, pilot Richard Vance, was not constrained by similar harnesses, which potentially facilitated his survival. Initially named in the lawsuit, he was later dismissed from the case.
Following the accident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated that doors-off helicopter tours improve their harness systems to ensure easy removal during emergencies. FLYNYON, despite the tragedy, continues to offer doors-off flights using the newly designed, easier-to-remove harnesses.
The lawsuit also partially implicated an aerospace parts manufacturer, Dart, citing a faulty inflation device that failed to deploy when the helicopter hit the water. On the other hand, the helicopter’s manufacturer, Airbus, was not found liable in this case.
Alongside Trevor, his best friend, Brian McDaniel, a 26-year-old Dallas-based firefighter, also lost his life in the crash. McDaniel’s family reached a settlement over his death in 2022.
As the legal judgments have been made, representatives for FLYON, Liberty Helicopter, and the lawyer for Dart have yet to comment on the verdict. This case not only highlights significant safety issues inherent in certain forms of aerial tourism but also underscores ongoing concerns about corporate accountability in preventable tragedies.