AUSTIN, TX – Attorneys Michael L. Slack and Ladd Sanger with Slack & Davis, a national law firm representing victims of airplane and helicopter crashes, concluded a confidential settlement today against Blue Hawaiian Helicopters on behalf of the family of Stuart Robertson, one of four passengers killed in a helicopter tour accident in November 2011 in Molokai, HI. Claims of two other passengers remain pending against Blue Hawaiian.
“I commend Blue Hawaiian for stepping up and resolving this claim. Stuart Robertson was an innocent passenger and his family did not deserve to suffer further grief. We are grateful that we could resolve their case,” said Mr. Slack.
Mr. Sanger, who represented a family who lost a loved one in another Blue Hawaiian crash in July 2000 killing seven passengers, added, “It’s troubling that so many helicopter tours result in fatal crashes. In our firm alone we’ve handled two weather-related fatal crashes involving Blue Hawaiian. We hope our efforts in this litigation will improve the safety for future passengers.”
In November 2011, a Blue Hawaiian helicopter crashed and burned after flying over the scenic Hawaiian island of Molokai, killing all five people on board including the pilot. The flight had been planned for the island of Maui but was changed to Molokai because of weather considerations. The tour helicopter industry, including tour operators in Hawaii, has come under heavy scrutiny from the National Transportation Safety Board in recent years. The NTSB’s investigation into this crash is continuing.
The Robertson family’s claims against American Eurocopter, the manufacturer of the helicopter, remain pending before Judge Barry Kurren in federal court in Honolulu. Attorney Richard Fried with Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Kekina & Fairbanks served as co-counsel with Slack & Davis on this case.