Grand Canyon helicopter crash sufferer’s father vows to marketing campaign for helicopter security | UK | News | EUROtoday

The father of a British vacationer killed in a Grand Canyon helicopter crash has described the plane as “a flying bomb”.

Jonathan, 31, and Ellie Udall, 29, have been on a honeymoon journey to the Grand Canyon when it crashed.

The plane’s gas tank then ignited and the couple died in hospital from burns and accidents.

Jonathan’s mother and father, of Southampton, claimed in a wrongful dying lawsuit that their son may have survived if it was not for the post-crash hearth – attributable to the helicopter’s gas tank that they declare was liable to rupturing.

The couple lately obtained a £78million payout and now Jonathan’s father Philip Udall, 70, says he desires to make use of the cash to marketing campaign for higher helicopter security. The former school lecturer stated: “Everybody is relieved that the case is now over.

“We’ve kept quiet for six years because we had to and now the shackles have been taken off.”

Mr Udall will now push for all helicopters to be fitted with a “crash-resistant fuel system” which he says will assist forestall fires breaking out after crashes.

“We are now looking at what we can do because there are still a lot of people climbing into helicopters not aware of what they are sitting on,” he stated.

“It needs to change and something needs to happen.”

He known as for different flight corporations to make sure they’ve crash-resistant gas programs, “before another one happens”.

On the substantial payout, from helicopter operator Papillon Airways and producer Airbus Helicopters, he stated: “It’s not about the money – it means nothing to us. It’s much bigger than us, we now have a resource we can call on, we can use to try and get this situation improved. And that was the reason for doing it. We don’t need a big wodge of money through the door.

“How much money do you need to live on?”

Mr Udall stated that they had already supplied gear to the burns unit at a British hospital and need to proceed to supply assist to these injured.

“The most important thing is that we can do what we can to move the clock on so there are no ‘flying bombs’ and they’re all gone,” he added.

Despite his son’s dying almost six years in the past, Mr Udall stated it nonetheless feels prefer it “could have been yesterday”.

The newlyweds have been on the helicopter journey with three mates. Veterinary receptionist Becky Dobson, 27, her boyfriend and automotive salesman Stuart Hill, 30, and Mr Hill’s brother, 32-year-old lawyer Jason Hill have been pronounced useless on the scene of the crash. The mates have been collectively celebrating Stuart’s birthday and the Udalls’ marriage ceremony with a visit to Las Vegas.

Mr Udall stated: “It’s the sort of thing every parent dreads.”

Paying tribute to his son and daughter-in-law, he added: “They were perfect – they had it all. When we sit down as a family there will always be two empty seats.”