On March 26, 2025, a Manhattan judge approved a $90 million settlement award in a wrongful death case involving Trevor Cadigan, who was fatally injured at the age of 26 in a helicopter crash.

According to an investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board, Cadigan was riding in the helicopter when one of the passenger’s restraints snagged on a fuel shut-off switch that was mounted to the floor.

When the shut-off switch engaged, the engine stopped. The helicopter, which doesn’t have any doors, experienced a free fall into the East River.

Court records show that the aircraft’s pilot was able to release his seat belt and escape the aircraft, but the passengers aboard were all wearing safety harnesses. Since the helicopter sunk so fast, the five passengers aboard were not able to escape. Among those who were fatally injured in the crash include 26-year-old Trevor Cadigan, 26-year-old Brian McDaniel, 29-year-old Carla Vallejos Blanco, 29-year-old Tristan Hill, and 34-year-old Daniel Thompson.

FlyNYON, the company that arranged the flight, stated that the company had taken several actions in the past few years to improve the safety of their helicopter rides. Among the actions taken included installing a new quick-release system, changing to more effective safety harnesses, and switching to a “safer” model of helicopter. They also added training for pilots and hired a safety officer to conduct inspections and ensure the safety of flights.

Liberty Helicopters, which owned the helicopter that was involved in the fatal accident and employed the pilot who took the flight, and Dart Aerospace, the makers of the flotation devices used in the crash, were also co-defendants in this case.

As a result of this horrific crash, the Federal Aviation Administration made the decision to temporarily ground all flights with tight seat restraints and no doors. Upon investigating the incident and analyzing potential solutions, experts decided that the best way to handle the situation would be to allow no-door flights to resume with a new requirement making restraints easier to release. The new requirements mean that the safety harnesses must be able to easily come off with a single action.

What is a Wrongful Death Claim?

While all fatal accidents feel wrongful, specific conditions must be met under the law for a situation to be considered a wrongful death situation. Under the law in Brooklyn, a wrongful death occurs when one party has a legal duty to provide for the care and safety of another party and they fail to do so. This failure in the party’s duty of care must have directly led to the fatal accident.

The loved ones of the deceased can pursue a wrongful death claim where a legal duty of care exists. A legal duty of care is established automatically in many types of situations, so it’s best to consult with an attorney if you’ve recently experienced a loss as a result of a fatal accident and you think you could have a claim on your hands.

Schedule a free phone call with our team of Brooklyn lawyers now to discuss your situation in depth with one of our lawyers.