Suburban Chicago helicopter crash leads to wrongful death lawsuit
Air Angels emergency transport company was named in a lawsuit filed on Jan 8. by the parents of the toddler killed in an October crash in Aurora, IL.
Kristin Blockinger was being transported to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago from Valley West Hospital in Sandwich.
According to the lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court, Air Angels, its operator and the pilot should have take precautions such as having two pilots and installing better equipment. The helicopter carrying 1 year-old Kirstin crashed after clipping a radio tower wire. The helicopter crashed in a field along Eola Rd. Everyone on board was killed in the crash.
Brooke and Robert Blockinger, Kristin's parents, believe new safety rules for such flights are necessary and hope that this incident will speed up action by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Recommendations by the National Transportation and Safety Board include the intallation of the Terrain Awareness Warning Systems on medical helicopters. Pilots are warned when they are in danger of crashing to the ground or an obstruction. The system is ready for installation now, however, some helicopter companies are waiting for the FAA and to see whether it is mandated.
Also killed in the crash was the 69 year old pilot, paramedic Ronald Battiato, 41 and nurse William Mann, 31.
