NEW YORK, United States — A New York jury this week awarded $116 million to the family of one of five people killed in an open-door helicopter that crashed and sank in a New York City river.

According to an article from The Associated Press, the crash left passengers trapped in their safety harnesses. The chopper reportedly plunged into the East River after a passenger tether — meant to keep someone from falling out of the open doors — got caught on a floor-mounted fuel shutoff switch and stopped the engine. Federal investigators said the aircraft started sinking within seconds.

The pilot, who was wearing a seatbelt, was able to free himself and survived but the five passengers onboard all died.

AP News said messages seeking comment were sent Friday to lawyers for his family and the companies that jurors blamed for his death. Those companies include FlyNYON, which arranged the flight, and Liberty Helicopters, which owned the helicopter and supplied the pilot. The jury also assigned some liability to Dart Aerospace, which made a flotation device that malfunctioned in the crash.