HOUSTON – On Monday, KPRC 2 Investigates spoke with New York City based Aviation Attorney Justin Green regarding Sunday night’s helicopter crash.
“You have what I call a rookie mistake,” said Green, speaking about Sunday night’s deadly crash.
Green is well-known within aviation’s legal world and has made a career of investigating airplane and helicopter crashes, first in the military and then as an attorney for victims and their families after accidents.
One notable crash in 2009 involved a mid-air collision between a helicopter tour operator and an airplane over the Hudson River in New York City. Nine people were killed in that crash, and Green was one of the attorneys involved.
“Tour flights are the one of the more dangerous types of aviation,” said Green, who went on to add, “Primarily because they are flying in city environments, the experience of the pilots and the professionalism of the outfits varies greatly.”
It should be noted that flight operators have a documented history of deadly crashes.
On its website, National Helicopter Solutions promotes ties to David Wayne Hooks Airport in Northwest Harris County and Ellington Airport, where they started flying their tours 11 days ago on October 10. Green says that fact has the potential to be significant.
“It could be a crucial role. Anytime you investigate an accident, one of the things you look on is the pilot’s experience, and a big part of their experience is their local experience,” he said.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) should have a completed final report into Sunday’s crash over the next twelve to eighteen months.
