Santa Clara, California – Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, is currently facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the widow of one of two pilots who tragically perished in a plane crash off the coast of California in May 2023. The lawsuit alleges that a poorly installed modification led to the crash and accuses Brin’s representatives of intentionally impeding recovery efforts to conceal evidence.
The updated complaint, filed on February 13th in the Santa Clara County Superior Court of California, claims that the pilots, Lance Maclean and co-pilot Dean Rushfedlt, were tasked with flying Brin’s seaplane from California to Fiji for a vacation with friends. The complaint asserts that a mechanic made modifications to the $8 million twin-engine Viking Air Twin Otter Series 400 without following proper procedures.
During the first leg of the flight to Hawaii, the fuel system failed, resulting in the plane crashing into the ocean as it attempted to return to California. Despite prompt action by the Coast Guard, both pilots remained trapped inside the partially submerged aircraft.
The lawsuit not only targets Brin but also names Google and Brin’s family investment firm, Bayshore Management, as co-owners of the plane. Additionally, it implicates those responsible for organizing the flight and maintaining the aircraft.
Following the pilots’ tragic deaths, the lawsuit alleges that Brin initially promised to assist with recovery efforts. However, it claims that Brin’s representatives later falsely stated that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was preventing the retrieval of the bodies — a claim denied by NOAA.
Maria Magdalena Olarte, Maclean’s widow, is seeking damages for various complaints, including wrongful death and negligence. She is demanding a jury trial to hold all responsible parties accountable for the tragic incident.