Parents of Grand Canyon Helicopter Crash Victim Awarded $100M Settlement

The lawsuit argued the helicopter lacked a crash-resistant fuel system, leading to a fire upon crash that caused fatal burns to Jonathan Udall.

Parents of British tourist Jonathan Udall, who died in a 2018 Grand Canyon helicopter crash, have been awarded a $100 million settlement from the aircraft's operator, Papillon Airways Inc., and its manufacturer, Airbus Helicopters SAS.
The lawsuit argued that the helicopter was unsafe due to the lack of a crash-resistant fuel system, which led to the aircraft catching fire upon crash.
Jonathan Udall suffered severe burns on 90% of his body and died 12 days after the incident.
The family plans to use a portion of the settlement funds to advocate for helicopter safety and support individuals recovering from burns.
The National Transportation Safety Board's 2021 report attributed the crash to a powerful tailwind that overwhelmed the pilot, but also noted the lack of a crash-resistant fuel system.