April 4, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Airport Fatal Crash Lawsuit Claims Hangar To Close To Runway:

The three sons of a passenger killed in a plane crash at Santa Monica Airport last year are suing the county, as well as the cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles, alleging a hangar into which the aircraft collided was built too close to the runway.

Charles, Elliot and Jackson Dupont brought the complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking unspecified compensatory damages in the death of 53-year-old Kyla Dupont, who died along with three other people aboard the aircraft on Sept. 29, 2013.

The suit alleges all three government entities share in the control and operation of Santa Monica Airport.

A representative for the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office could could not be immediately reached.

Killed along with Dupont were the 63-year-old pilot, Mark Benjamin, who was the president of a Santa Monica-based construction company; his son Lucas, 28; and the younger Benjamin’s girlfriend, 28-year-old Lauren Winkler.

After the place crashed into the hangar, the structure’s roof collapsed onto the aircraft and a fire started, according to the suit, which alleges that the proximity of the hangar to the runway created a foreseeable risk of the kind of accident that occurred.

Last November, the Dupont sons sued Benjamin’s estate, alleging he failed to maintain proper control over the plane, did not act “reasonably in the ownership of the plane,” did not undertake the necessary actions to accomplish a safe flight, did not act reasonably in landing the plane and failed to keep it in good repair.

A report from the National Transportation Safety Board found that all of the tires were inflated and there was no debris on the runway when the Cessna 525A Citation slammed into the hangar around 6:20 p.m. upon arrival from Hailey, Idaho.

in News
<>Related Posts

Film Review: Death of a Unicorn

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

FILM REVIEWDEATH OF A UNICORNRated R107 MinutesReleased March 28th  Death of a Unicorn is certainly an imaginative movie, and it...

LAPD to Conduct DUI Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols Across L.A. This Weekend

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols Target High-Risk Areas, Come With High Penalties The Los Angeles Police Department will conduct a series...

(Video) Adorn Your Home With Plants and Pottery from Urban Jungle

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

Go To Urbanjungleplantsandpottery.com For More Info Go To https://t.co/AS6KmhBArb For More Info pic.twitter.com/8NkKBbgpfF — Santa Monica Mirror (@SMMirror) April 4,...

Suspect Still Outstanding in Westminster Dog Park Shooting

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

The Victim Has Been Described as a “Protector” Who “Got Shot Defending a Homegirl” Police continue to look for the...

THIS WEEKEND: Venice Fundraiser to Support Marine Mammal Care

April 4, 2025

April 4, 2025

The nonprofit rescues and rehabilitates sick and injured marine mammals along the Los Angeles coastline A fundraiser benefiting the Marine...

Join UCLA’s Innovative Memory Research Study!

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Are you ready to contribute to groundbreaking research and help shape the future of memory treatments? Do you sometimes find...

Coming Soon: Easter Extravaganza at Regent Santa Monica Beach

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Book your Delectable Brunch, Easter Festivities This Easter, step into a world of celebration and refined delight at Regent Santa Monica Beach....

Free Saturday Morning Fitness Program Returns to Santa Monica Pier

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

The event begins each week with a group run under the historic Santa Monica Yacht Harbor sign Wellness & Waves,...

Three Teens Arrested in Santa Monica Armed Robbery

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

The group threatened to shoot if the victim didn’t hand over his phone Three teenagers were arrested after allegedly robbing...

Levain Bakery to Open Venice Location with Special Guests and Charitable Twist

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Bigger Than a Cookie: Levain’s Venice Opening Is a Flavorful Fundraiser Levain Bakery, the cult-favorite cookie destination founded in New...

(Video) Check Out Bernie’s, a New Pop Up at Citizen Public Market in Culver City

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Made with fresh frozen fruit and a toasted merengue topping these flavors are irresistible. The pop up will be at...

Historic Beethoven Market Reopens as Community-Centric Restaurant

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Originally established in 1949, Beethoven Market was a grocery store serving the community for 75 years Beethoven Market, a longtime...

(Video) Palisades Art Gallery Owner on Relocating to Santa Monica

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Bruce Lurie Owned What Was The Only Fine Arts Space in Palisades. The Gallery Has Found a New Life in...

Mikomi Sushi Opens New Santa Monica Location

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

The new location continues Mikomi Sushi’s commitment to serving sushi, sashimi, and specialty rolls Mikomi Sushi, a well-regarded sushi restaurant...

From Cocktails to Coffee: U.S. Tariffs Threaten Imports, Jobs, and Your Grocery Bill

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Major Price Hikes Expected for Coffee, Wine, Chocolate, and Butter  A sweeping new set of tariffs announced by former President...