Clutha victims’ families begin legal action against helicopter operator

Lawyers representing injured victims and families of those killed in the Glasgow helicopter crash have started legal action against the aircraft’s operator.

Ten people died when the police helicopter crashed into the roof of the Clutha pub on November 29 last year.

More than 100 people were inside the city-centre bar at the time.

Irwin Mitchell’s specialist aviation law team has sent a letter of claim to the legal representatives of Bond Aviation Group and also reiterated calls for a full examination of what can be done to improve flight safety.

One client the law firm is representing in the compensation claim is John McGarrigle.

Mr McGarrigle’s father, also called John, died when the helicopter crashed through the roof.

It has not yet been established what caused the helicopter to fall from the sky, although investigators say initial evidence rules out engine or gearbox failure.

The helicopter crew of pilot David Traill, PC Tony Collins and PC Kirsty Nelis died in the Clutha crash as well as seven customers in the pub.

They were John McGarrigle, Mark O’Prey, Gary Arthur, Colin Gibson, Robert Jenkins, Samuel McGhee and Joe Cusker.