Helicopter Maker, Family Settle Crash Lawsuit

Lawyers have reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by the family of a Tennessee National Guard soldier who died in a helicopter crash in Iraq.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports terms of the settlement were not released and still have to get final approval from a judge.

The family of Tennessee National Guard Capt. Marcus Ray Alford of Knoxville filed suit against government contractor Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. and other companies that supplied parts for the Kiowa OH-58D Warrior helicopter that crashed in 2010.

Alford and 25-year-old Chief Warrant Office 2 Billie Jean Grinder of Gallatin died in the crash. Grinder’s family also sued, but the settlement discussed during a court hearing Tuesday did not address that portion of the lawsuit.