Lawyers Continue Negotiations With Aircraft Operator Following ‘Inadequate’ Settlement Offers

Lawyers representing families who lost loved ones in The Clutha helicopter crash six months ago have described the initial offers of compensation from the company responsible for operating the aircraft as ‘wholly inadequate’, and revealed their continued determination to gain justice for their clients.

Irwin Mitchell Scotland represents 17 people in relation to the incident, when ten people died and many others were injured after a Bond Aviation Group-operated police helicopter crashed into The Clutha Pub in Glasgow on November 29th.

The law firm has now confirmed that offers received from Bond in relation to the fatal cases have been rejected, but revealed its intention to continue fighting  to ensure its clients are properly provided for.

In the six months since the tragedy, the specialist lawyers have worked tirelessly to provide support to the victims of the crash including:

• Negotiating with Bond Aviation Group from the earliest possible stage to secure interim payments for injured victims and to arrange specialist support for them
• Investigating the full extent of injuries to ensure victims get the justice they deserve
• Securing financial offers from Bond Aviation Group in relation to the fatal cases
• Collaborating with Irwin Mitchell’s Expert Aviation Law team and writing to both the UK and Scottish Parliaments to urge them to consider a public inquiry into commercial helicopter safety in an effort to prevent future tragedies.

Elaine Russell, the Partner at Irwin Mitchell Scotland’s Glasgow office who is representing the victims of the incident, said:

Elaine Russell added that there remains much appetite for answers regarding the crash, with the only official update released so far being an Air Accident Investigation Branch special bulletin which indicates that both engines lost power due to fuel starvation. However, the full chain of events that caused this to happen has not yet been determined.

She added:

As well as acting for victims of the Clutha tragedy, Irwin Mitchell also acts for those affected by helicopter crashes such as the Eurocopter crashes off the coast of Shetland in August 2013 and in the North Sea in October 2012.

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in Air Accident Claims.