Grand Canyon helicopter crash: deaths of five Sussex holidaymakers were 'preventable'

Brothers Stuart and Jason Hill and Stuart's girlfriend Becky Dobson, all from Worthing, died on Saturday, February 10, while on holiday in Las Vegas to celebrate Stuart's 30th birthday.

They were on a helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon with friends Jonathan and Ellie Udall from Brighton, who were also on their honeymoon, when the aircraft crashed.

Stuart, 30, Jason, 31, and Becky, 26, all died at the scene. Jonathan, 31, died at University Medical Centre in Clark, Las Vegas, on February 22, and Ellie, 29, died on February 25.

Speaking at a pre-inquest review into their deaths at Crawley Coroner's Court today, lawyer James Healy-Pratt said the accident was 'preventable' and his clients wanted to see crash-resistant fuel systems fitted to all helicopters to protect 'further and future innocent lives' in 'this jurisdiction and beyond'.

He said: "This terrible tragedy earlier this year was just another example of innocent passengers losing their lives in an accident that is survivable, and more needs to be done.

"More is being done to be fair, both in the US and Europe, but at the moment there is no rule that forces operators of these helicopters to retrofit safer fuel tanks, and that is something the families have a serious concern with."

Mr Healy-Pratt is representing the families of Becky, Stuart, Jason and Ellie, while Jonathan's family is being represented by Gudrun Young. Mr Udall’s parents, Philip and Marlene Udall, from Southampton,