Parents of man who died in horrific helicopter crash over Grand Canyon awarded $100 million
A judge has approved a massive payout to the parents of a British man who died in a helicopter crash in the Grand Canyon.
On 10 February 2018, five Britons were involved in a devastating helicopter crash in the Grand Canyon, Arizona which led to all of them passing away.
Onboard the Airbus EC130 B4 helicopter which burst into flames was Jonathan Udall, accompanied by his new wife Ellie Milward, 29, brothers Stuart and Jason Hill, 30 and 32, and Stuart's girlfriend Becky Dobson, 27.
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The 31-year-old's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the helicopter operator and manufacturer and a judge has since approved the settlement.
The five Britons had been taking a trip on the helicopter in celebration of Jonathan and Ellie's recent marriage alongside Stuart Hill's birthday.
However, while flying over the Grand Canyon, the aircraft crashed and burst into flames.
The pilot of the aircraft survived - although has gone on to have both legs amputated - while Becky and both Hill brothers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Ellie and Jonathan were rushed to hospital with severe burn injuries.
Jonathan was reported to suffer burns to 90 percent of his body before passing away 12 days after the incident, while his wife died a few days later, similarly as a result of her burn injuries.
Jonathan's parents, Philip and Marlene Udall, filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming the aircraft's manufacturer, Airbus Helicopters SAS and operator, Papillon Airways, were negligent in failing to install a crash-resistant fuel tank and that if the companies had, their son may not have sustained 'severe and catastrophic burns' and could potentially have survived.
On Friday (5 January) a Nevada judge approved a settlement for the Udalls, meaning they're set to receive $100 million - &75.4 million from Airbus Helicopters SAS and $24.6 million from Papillon Airways.
The parents' lawyer, Gary C Robb, said in a statement as quoted by BBC News: "The family wanted to shine a spotlight on this public health issue because there are too many helicopters that have this very unsafe, flimsy fuel tank.
"When the helicopter makes a hard landing, it opens up and pours fuel onto the passengers, soaks them in the fuel, and then it ignites and they are then covered in flame. It is horrific. And it should be corrected immediately."
The Udalls are going to use some of the settlement money to raise awareness of helicopter safety and implore manufacturers to improve their aircraft so 'no other parents have to go through what they went through'.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Poppy Bilderbeck