Urgent Answers Called For By Lawyer Representing Helicopter Crash Victims

Expert aviation lawyers representing victims from recent helicopter crashes in the North Sea, Shetland and London say this latest in a string of Eurocopter crashes in Scottish airspace adds significantly to ongoing safety concerns. 

Lawyers say investigations into what caused a police helicopter to crash into a Glasgow pub must quickly identify what went wrong so that lessons can be learned and measures implemented to improve the safety of helicopter operations.
 
The latest fatal accident happened at 10.25 pm on Friday evening (29 November) when a Police Scotland helicopter - a Eurocopter EC135 T2 - came down on the roof of a crowded pub, the Clutha Vaults pub in Stockwell Street, Glasgow.

The police reported that there were three people on board - two police officers and a civilian pilot – who were killed, along with five others who were spending a Friday evening in the pub.  There are reports that 14 others are being treated for serious injuries in hospital.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist aviation law team represents injured victims as well as the families of many of those killed in aviation accidents around the world.

Jim Morris is a former RAF pilot and Partner in Irwin Mitchell’s aviation law team. 

This leading legal team has significant experience in representing the victims of Eurocopter crashes. Current cases include representing passengers injured in the CHC Helicopters North Sea ditching of a Eurocopter Super Puma helicopter in October 2012 and the CHC Helicopters Eurocopter Super Puma crash near Shetland in August 2013. The causes of both these accidents are still being investigated although claims have been intimated against both Eurocopter and CHC.

Irwin Mitchell's aviation law team is also pursuing legal proceedings against Eurocopter in France following a fatal Eurocopter AS350 helicopter crash in the country in 2007.

The risk of helicopter accidents in the airspace over cities is obvious and was demonstrated in January 2013 when an Augusta Westland AW109 collided with a crane and crashed into the streets of London during rush hour. 

Irwin Mitchell's aviation law team also represent victims on the ground who suffered serious injuries in the London crash and this latest tragedy in Glasgow, which occurred close to Irwin Mitchell's Glasgow office, has further highlighted the ongoing risks associated with helicopter operations, especially flights over cities.

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise relating to aviation law.