Sudbury

$3.7 M lawsuit launched in 2013 fatal Ornge helicopter crash in Moosonee

One of the families of the four people killed in a 2013 Ornge Air Ambulance crash in Moosonee is suing. Christopher Snowball's family is seeking more than $3 million from Ornge, Transport Canada and two unnamed Transport Canada inspectors.

2 pilots, 2 paramedics died when their helicopter crashed near Moosonee, in northern Ontario

It's been about 3 years since an Ornge air ambulance crash in Moosonee left four people dead. (Tony Smyth/CBC)

One of the families of the four people killed in a 2013 Ornge Air Ambulance crash in Moosonee is suing.

Christopher Snowball's family is seeking more than $3 million from Ornge, Transport Canada and two unnamed Transport Canada inspectors.

Snowball was a 38-year-old paramedic from Burlington.

Also killed in the crash were Captain Don Filliter, 54, of Skead, Ont.; First Officer Jacques Dupuy, 43, of Otterburn-Park, Que., and Paramedic Dustin Dagenais, 34, of Moose Factory, Ont.

The Transportation Board laid 14 recommendations following the release of its highly anticipated report about the investigation into the 2013 fatal ORNGE helicopter crash in Moosonee, Ont. (Mike Crawley/CBC)

On May 31. 2013 the four Ornge employees were travelling to Attawapiskat First Nation reserve in northern Ontario when they crashed one kilometre from an airport in Moosonee, Ont in the early morning hours.

The family's lawyer, Carlin McGoogan, says a recent Transportation Safety Board report into the crash compelled the family to file the lawsuit.

"I think that the report being released has really turned that devastation into anger for them," he told CBC News.

"I think realizing the extent of the mistakes that were made, which are all highlighted in the report, has been very hard and brings it all back to them really."

The Transportation Safety Board report revealed Ornge and Transport Canada didn't have sufficient resources to effectively manage safety.

"What became clear in that report is that there were significant shortcomings, not just at Ornge. But also with Transport Canada's oversight of Ornge, which contributed to the crash and ultimately to Christopher Snowball's death," McGoogan added.

The report made 14 recommendations on how to improve the air transportation industry and flying at night.

Graphic from the Transportation Safety Board shows path of ORNGE air ambulance chopper as it crashed in Moosonee, Ont. (Mike Crawley/CBC)

With files from Olivia Stefanovich. Edited/packaged by Wendy Bird.