Families of Ski Gondola Victims Reportedly Accept Settlement
The families of all 20 people killed when a Marine jet clipped an Italian ski gondola two years ago have accepted settlements of nearly $2 million apiece, the attorney for five Belgian families said Tuesday.
C. Torrence Armstrong, a lawyer representing the Belgians, said his clients will drop a lawsuit seeking damages against the United States in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.
The settlements were accepted April 14, Armstrong said. He said the U.S. government is responsible for paying 75% of the $40 million total. Italy will pay the rest.
The settlements end the civil lawsuits stemming from the Feb. 3, 1998, tragedy near Cavalese, Italy.
An EA-6B Prowler was deployed at Aviano Air Base in Italy for missions over Bosnia-Herzegovina when it clipped the gondola cable during a training flight.
Investigators determined that the plane was flying too low and too fast.
The pilot, Capt. Richard J. Ashby of Mission Viejo, was acquitted of manslaughter but sentenced to six months in the brig for destroying a videotape shot during the flight.
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