Wife sues over meteorologist’s death in NC helicopter crash

The household of a meteorologist who was killed final 12 months in a helicopter crash in North Carolina is suing a upkeep facility and the businesses that owned and operated the plane.

The grievance filed this week in Mecklenburg County Courtroom in Charlotte alleges negligence and claims the helicopter was working on contaminated gasoline, which may result in engine failure.

The lawsuit alleges the pilot did not carry out flight inspections and emergency engine failure procedures adequately. It argues the corporate that owned the plane is chargeable for these errors.

Meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag died in November after the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed alongside a Charlotte-area interstate. Police praised the pilot for saving lives of drivers by avoiding the roadway.

Meyers labored for Charlotte-area information channel WBTV and Tayag labored for the Complete Visitors and Climate Community, which is owned by guardian firm iHeartMedia, the lawsuit states.

Myers’ spouse, Jillian Ann Myers, is suing upkeep facility Wilson Air Middle-North Carolina, the Complete Visitors and Climate Community and iHeartMedia.

Vince Papke, common supervisor for the air middle in North Carolina, declined to remark. iHeartMedia didn’t reply to an e-mail searching for remark.

The lawsuit “is about searching for solutions as to what brought about the helicopter crash and to carry the accountable events absolutely accountable for Jason’s loss of life,” stated Gary Robb, Jillian Myers’ lawyer, in a press release.

Robb represented Vanessa Bryant, the widow of basketball star Kobe Bryant, in her wrongful loss of life lawsuit in opposition to the pilot and house owners of the helicopter that crashed in 2020, killing the NBA star and eight others. It was settled final 12 months beneath confidential phrases.

Myers, the meteorologist, was raised in North Carolina’s Union and Catawba counties and labored within the metropolis of Raleigh, and in Texas and Virginia earlier than returning to the Charlotte space the place he grew up, WBTV stated in November. He was survived by his spouse and 4 kids.

The household is searching for compensatory damages, together with his web revenue, in extra of $25,000 in addition to punitive damages.

Tayag had been a pilot for greater than 20 years, the station stated. In response to witness experiences, Tayag prevented the helicopter from crashing onto Interstate-77 throughout a busy week of vacation journey.

“The pilot is a hero in my eyes,” stated Johnny Jennings, chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Division, in a press release on the day of the crash.

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