- Sergey Brin faces second lawsuit over fatal plane crash
- Families allege negligence in aircraft maintenance
- Legal battle unfolds amid claims of improper body recovery efforts
Trouble in paradise
Google co-founder Sergey Brin is embroiled in a new legal battle following a tragic plane crash off the California coast in May 2023.
The families of two pilots who lost their lives in the incident have filed lawsuits against Brin, his family office Bayshore Global, and related entities, alleging negligence in the maintenance and operation of the aircraft.
Fuel for thought
The lawsuits claim that a fuel bladder malfunction led to the crash of the De Havilland DHC6-400 Twin Otter airplane en route from California to Hawaii.
According to the complaints, the equipment was improperly installed “from memory” rather than following a checklist, and proper documentation was not maintained.
Legal turbulence ahead
The latest lawsuit, filed in July by the family of pilot Dean Rushfeldt, includes a charge of tortious interference with a dead body, accusing Brin’s team of misleading promises regarding body recovery efforts.
This case follows a similar lawsuit filed in February by the widow of co-pilot Lance Maclean. Brin’s legal team has attempted to dismiss some claims in the earlier suit, setting the stage for a complex legal battle.
