$100 Million Settlement Reached in 2018 Grand Canyon Helicopter Crash

A Nevada judge has recently approved a significant $100 million settlement in a tragic case involving a 2018 helicopter crash in the Grand Canyon. This crash claimed the lives of five individuals, including a British tourist, Jonathan Udall, and his newlywed wife. The settlement terms, approved in Las Vegas, allocate $24.6 million from Papillon Airways Inc., the helicopter operator, and $75.4 million from Airbus Helicopters SAS, the French manufacturer.

The crash, which occurred outside the Grand Canyon National Park’s regulated air tour boundaries, raised serious safety concerns. The lawsuit filed by the Udall family claimed the helicopter lacked a crash-resistant fuel system, a feature now mandated in aircraft built after new Federal Aviation Administration regulations in 2020. The family’s lawyer, Gary C. Robb, emphasized the importance of publicizing the settlement to highlight the dangers of certain aircraft fuel tanks, which they likened to a "fire bomb."

The Airbus EC130 B4 helicopter, carrying the Udalls and other British tourists, crashed under turbulent wind conditions. The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation found no mechanical issues but noted the absence of a crash-resistant fuel system in the helicopter. The pilot and one passenger survived with severe injuries, while the Udalls and three others perished, partly due to complications from burn injuries.

Papillon Airways has since retrofitted its fleet with improved fuel tanks following FAA approval. The settlement, which also acknowledges the deaths of veterinary receptionist Becky Dobson, car salesman Stuart Hill, and lawyer Jason Hill, brings closure to a deeply tragic incident, with the Udall family hoping it sparks industry-wide safety improvements.