Five years after one of the deadliest heli-ski helicopter crashes in North American history, a jury in Anchorage, Alaska, has delivered its verdict. On Thursday, July 2, jurors awarded just under $7.5 million in damages to the family of Petr Kellner, the Czech billionaire who initially survived the March 2021 helicopter crash near Alaska’s Knik Glacier only to succumb to his injuries before rescuers arrived. The verdict brings accountability to a case that exposed major failures in flight monitoring and emergency response, raising difficult questions about safety protocols in the heli-ski industry.
Following five weeks of testimony in Anchorage Superior Court and two days of deliberations, the jury awarded $7.483 million in damages to Kellner’s estate, including $1.2 million for pain and suffering and $6.283 million in economic losses. Jurors found all three original defendants negligent, allocating responsibility among Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, Soloy Helicopters, and Third Edge Alaska. Soloy Helicopters and Third Edge Alaska were assigned a combined 80% of the fault, while Tordrillo Mountain Lodge was found 20% responsible.
Soloy Helicopters had already reached a confidential settlement with the Kellner Estate for several million dollars before trial and was dismissed from the lawsuit. This week’s verdict now applies to Tordrillo Mountain Lodge and Third Edge Alaska.
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In a statement following the decision, the Kellner Estate said: “While this verdict does not change what happened, it does bring closure and much needed accountability. The jury found that Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, Soloy Helicopters, and Third Edge Alaska were all negligent.” The family added that they hope the case encourages the heli-ski industry to revisit its emergency procedures so that “other families do not suffer similar tragedies.”
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge also released a statement acknowledging the verdict. “The jury found multiple parties shared responsibility for this accident, including both Soloy Helicopters and Third Edge Alaska. We extend our sincere condolences to the Kellner family and to the families and loved ones of every person who was lost that day.”
The remote luxury lodge, located across Cook Inlet from Anchorage, is co-owned by Olympic gold medalist Tommy Moe, Alaska heli-ski pioneer Mike Overcast, and Mike Rheam. Kellner had previously booked several heli-ski trips with the operation. On March 27, 2021, Kellner was part of a heli-skiing group near Alaska’s Knik Glacier when the Airbus AS350B3 helicopter operated by Wasilla-based Soloy Helicopters crashed while attempting to land on a ridgeline.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later concluded the accident resulted from pilot Zachary Russell losing visual reference during a whiteout landing in blowing snow. Investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure. Toxicology results released by the NTSB also revealed that lead guide Gregory Harms had cocaine and amphetamine in his system at the time of the crash — a finding that emerged during the NTSB investigation but was not central to the civil case, which focused on the delayed emergency response rather than the cause of the crash itself.
Five people died in the crash: Kellner, 56; pilot Zachary Russell, 33; guides Greg Harms, 52, and Sean McManamy, 38; and French snowboarder Benjamin Larochaix, 50. The lone survivor was Czech snowboarder and photographer David Horváth, a close friend of Kellner’s. Trapped in the wreckage for hours, Horváth suffered severe injuries and frostbite that ultimately cost him several fingers.
Horváth later told investigators he last saw Kellner alive outside the wreckage after the crash. Kellner was conscious and searching for a satellite phone in an attempt to call for help.
While the cause of the crash itself was not disputed, the lawsuit centered on what happened afterward.
According to evidence presented during the trial and findings from the NTSB investigation:
- The flight follower assigned to monitor the helicopter waited 41 minutes after the aircraft’s last recorded position before notifying a supervisor.
- Nearly 1 hour and 50 minutes passed before Tordrillo Mountain Lodge informed Soloy Helicopters that the flight was overdue.
- Rescue crews did not reach the crash site until approximately 5 hours and 40 minutes after the helicopter went down.
The Kellner Estate argued that the prolonged delay significantly reduced Kellner’s chances of survival. Jurors agreed that the delayed emergency response contributed to his death.
During the trial, attorneys for Tordrillo Mountain Lodge argued that Soloy Helicopters, not the lodge, was federally responsible for tracking the flight and that Kellner’s injuries would have been fatal regardless of when rescuers arrived. The jury rejected those arguments.
Although the NTSB said it could not determine with certainty whether a faster rescue would have saved the victims, its medical investigators concluded that an earlier response would have reduced the severity of Horváth’s injuries. A separate lawsuit filed by Horváth over his physical injuries and the emotional trauma of surviving the crash remains on appeal before the Alaska Supreme Court.
For the Kellner family, Thursday’s verdict closes brings closure to a prelonged legal battle following his 2021 death. While the ruling cannot change what happened on the Knik Glacier in March 2021, the family hopes it will encourage heli-ski operators to strengthen emergency response procedures so similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.
Petr Kellner was one of Europe’s most successful entrepreneurs. He founded PPF Group in 1991 and transformed it into the largest private investment group in Central and Eastern Europe. Today, PPF operates in 25 countries across financial services, telecommunications, engineering, biotechnology, and media. Despite becoming the Czech Republic’s wealthiest individual and appearing on the Forbes billionaire list in 2006, Kellner was known for avoiding publicity and fiercely protecting his family’s privacy. Together with his wife Renata, he supported numerous educational and cultural initiatives through the Kellner Family Foundation. Away from business, Kellner loved snowboarding and the mountains. He was 56 years old when he died.
