A lawsuit has been filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Clara, seeking damages related to the tragic death of pilot Lance Maclean. The complaint, filed on February 8, names Sergey Brin, Google, and Bayshore Global Management as defendants. The legal action alleges that Brin requested his aircraft, a Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter, to be flown from California to his private island in Fiji for the purpose of "island hopping" with guests.

The lawsuit claims that the aircraft, equipped with a ferry fuel system, experienced a malfunction during the flight from California to Hawaii, resulting in the aircraft crashing into the sea off the coast of Half Moon Bay on May 20, 2023. Both pilots on board, Lance Maclean and Dean Rushfeldt, tragically lost their lives in the crash.

Allegations in the complaint include shortcomings in the installation of the ferry fuel system, with claims that the modifications were made without proper guidelines and documentation. Furthermore, it is asserted that efforts to recover the bodies of the pilots following the crash were allegedly hindered, leaving the deceased pilots at the bottom of the ocean.

The legal action holds Sergey Brin, Google, Bayshore Global Management, Southern Cross Aviation, and Seafly LLC accountable for the fatal airplane crash and subsequent events. The lawsuit seeks damages related to the incident and the handling of its aftermath.