A country judge has ordered iHeartMedia’s Total Traffic & Weather Network to pay $50 million to the family of WBTV meteorologist Jason Myers, who died in a November 2022 helicopter crash in Charlotte, NC, alongside pilot Chip Tayag.
The crash, caused by a faulty nut in the helicopter’s rotor, was attributed to negligent maintenance by iHeartMedia subsidiaries. The total judgment was $126.3 million, with $50 million payable within two months, and the rest potentially covered by excess insurance. Myers, survived by his wife Jillian and three children, was a beloved Charlotte meteorologist. The settlement acknowledges the family’s loss but cannot replace Myers, per his wife’s statement.
In a statement to WCNC-TV, Jillian Myers expressed the profound grief behind the financial resolution: "There is no acceptable amount of money that rights the wrongful and preventable events that robbed me of the Love of my life, our children of their father, and Jason’s family of their son and brother. This settlement does not bring back the man we lost, but it does represent a formal acknowledgment of the profound impact his death has had on our family."
The case highlights ongoing concerns about aviation safety in broadcast journalism, where helicopters are used for live traffic and weather coverage. It may prompt stricter maintenance protocols for similar operations nationwide.
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later determined the cause was a critical mechanical failure: a loose or faulty nut on the main rotor blade assembly that had been overlooked during maintenance.
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later determined the cause was a critical mechanical failure: a loose or faulty nut on the main rotor blade assembly that had been overlooked during maintenance.