The lone survivor and the families of 17 people who died in a horrific helicopter crash off the coast of Newfoundland last March have settled their lawsuit against the aircraft’s manufacturer, the victims’ lawyer confirmed Wednesday.
"Recently, an agreement in principal was also reached to resolve all of the financial claims of the passengers and their families," said Martin Brigham in an e-mail from Philadelphia. "We are confident that this resolution will be successfully finalized."
No details of the financial settlements will be released.
The lawsuits were filed in Philadelphia in June against the Connecticut-based Sikorsky, Keystone Helicopters and its’ subsidiary United Technologies Corp. alleging there were obvious safety concerns with the aircraft.
In July, the lawsuits were dropped when discussions began between the two sides.
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The Sikorsky S-92A helicopter plummeted to the ocean and sank east of Newfoundland on March 12, 2009, while making an emergency return to the St. John’s airport.
The crash killed 17 offshore oil workers and left one survivor, 28-year-old Robert Decker.
Brigham said "significant work" had been made between the families and Sikorsky in the past few months.
"The families have remained firmly committed to all of their goals outlined when the litigation was initially filed, which included getting answers to why the crash occurred and trying to help ensure and support that it never happened again," he said in the e-mail. "Sikorsky has been responsive to the families’ questions and concerns."
Paul Jackson, a spokesman for Sikorsky, confirmed the settlements Wednesday but refused to provide any further information.
A report by the Transportation Safety Board released in the summer found that the tail roter gears of the helicopter had been damaged and may have caused the pilots to lose control of the aircraft.
An inquiry into the fatal crash adjourned in November with testimony from Decker, who described blacking out when the chopper hit the water.
The inquiry will resume on Jan. 11.
The crash victims of Cougar Helicopters’ Flight 491 were Allison Maher, 26, of Aquaforte, N.L; the captain, Matthew Davis, 34, of St. John’s; first officer Tim Lanouette, 48, of Comox, B.C.; Thomas Anwyll, 46, of Langley, B.C.; Peter Breen, 55, of St. John’s; Gary Corbett, 46, of Conception Bay South, N.L.; Wade Drake, 42, of Fortune, N.L., Wade Duggan, 32, of Witless Bay, N.L.; Colin Henley, 38, of St. John’s; Ken MacRae, 47, of Greenwood, N.S.; Derrick Mullowney, 51, of Bay Bulls, N.L.; Burch Nash, 44, of Fortune, N.L.; Paul Pike, 49, of Spaniard’s Bay, N.L.; Corey Eddy, 32, of Paradise, N.L.; John Pelley, 41, of Deer Lake, N.L; Keith E. Escott, 39, of St. John’s and Gregory Wayne Morris, 40, St. John’s.
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