Relatives of the 20 passengers and crew killed in a seaplane crash off Miami Beach last year will split about $51 million in a tentative settlement of all related lawsuits against Chalk’s Ocean Airways, attorneys said Friday.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers said they should be able to reach a final agreement “within the next few weeks” with the Fort Lauderdale-based airline, which flew the 58-year-old Grumman G-73T Turbo Mallard that crashed en route to Bimini, Bahamas, on Dec. 19.
Lead plaintiff counsel Robert Parks would not comment on the value of the tentative settlement. But lawyer Steven Marks, whose firm represents the estates of three victims, said it would be about $51 million, the maximum under Chalk’s insurance policy.
The agreement was disclosed in documents filed in federal court this week. Chalk’s lawyer, Dennis O’Hara, could not be reached for comment.
The plane crashed shortly after takeoff when its right wing broke off. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating whether it had adequate inspections and maintenance.
Compiled from wire reports
