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 helicopter tour operator versus an airplane mid-air collision over the Hudson River in New York City that killed nine. Green was one of the attorneys involved in that crash.
“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.
National Helicopter Solutions claims to have ties to David Wayne Hooks Airport in Northwest Harris County and Ellington Airport, where they only started flying their tours 11 days ago, according to their website. 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.
