Archive · 20 Sep 2025
Judge Orders $50M Payment in Meteorologist's Helicopter Death
A TV meteorologist named Jason Myers died in a helicopter crash.
His family sued the companies that owned and operated the helicopter.
A judge has now ordered the companies to pay the family $50 million.
The judge agreed with experts who said the crash happened because of mistakes in how the helicopter was maintained and used.
The lawsuit was hoped to improve helicopter safety for TV and weather operations.
Myers worked in North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia before returning to Charlotte.
The pilot, Chip Tayag, was also killed in the crash.
A judge ordered $50 million to be paid to the family of a WBTV meteorologist killed in a 2022 helicopter crash.
The crash occurred after the helicopter's hardware became disconnected due to maintenance errors.
The defendants, including Total Traffic & Weather Network and iHeartMedia, were found liable.
The $50 million payment comes from the defendants' primary insurers, with additional amounts possible.
The lawsuit aimed to improve helicopter safety and operations.
- Who
- Family of Jason Myers versus Total Traffic & Weather Network, iHeartCommunications, and iHeartMedia
- What
- A judge ordered a $50 million payment to the family of Jason Myers, a WBTV meteorologist, after his death in a helicopter crash.
- When
- The crash occurred in November 2022, and the judgment was ordered in the current time.
- Where
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Why
- The judgment was issued after it was determined that operational and maintenance errors caused the helicopter crash, leading to wrongful death.
- Victim
- Jason Myers, WBTV meteorologist
- Cause of Death
- Helicopter crash
- Location of Crash
- Charlotte-area interstate
- Settlement Amount
- $50 million
- Defendants
- Total Traffic & Weather Network, iHeartCommunications, iHeartMedia
- Judge
- Forrest Bridges