DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – The family of one of the two Dallas men who were killed in a helicopter crash in New York last weekend is suing the helicopter company for equipping harnesses that didn’t open properly.
Attorneys for Trevor Cadigan said putting the harnesses release mechanism in the back made it a “death trap.”
Devin Holt worked with firefighter Brian McDaniel, who also died in the crash, said the entire situation is maddening.
“It’s very aggravating only in that it all seems pretty silly that have a helicopter that you can turn the fuel off with just like that. It didn’t seem very protective,” he said.
Lieutenant Ray Smith also worked with McDaniel and said the helicopter should have been better equipped.
“I was frustrated…thinking how could it happen? I don’t know how…if there’s not a better way of getting out of that thing if a situation did happen,” he said.
Holt said he and his fellow firefighters are trying not to focus on the frustration.
“As far as second guessing it and being angry, we’re just sad that we lost a brother,” he said.
Cadigan and McDaniel were among 5 people killed while on a sightseeing tour of the city when a helicopter plummeted into the East River.
The pilot of the helicopter, Richard Vance, was the only survivor.
Investigators said that Vance said during an interview that it’s possible that one of the passengers accidentally hit the fuel cut-off switch with a piece of equipment, which may have caused the crash.
The city medical examiner’s office ruled that all 5 passengers died of drowning.
A Go Pro camera and a black box were found. Investigators are looking into both.
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