networkn:
SJB:
There was nothing scientific about this operation. It was simply created to make money and done on the cheap by the look of it.
The waivers the unfortunate passengers signed won't be worth the paper they were written on once the (wealthy) families lawyers get stuck in. I hope the parent company gets sued out of existence.
Playing devils advocate here...
Logically, the CEO stands to make the most money from these expeditions. If he felt the chances of dying were 'moderate to high', hard to believe he himself would have been piloting it. Presumably, he understands if his expeditions were to kill everyone on board, it was an extinction-level event for his business, and it's holdings and any money in it.
I mean, it's feasible he was suicidal and self-destructive but somewhat less likely. There is a chance this was a horrible accident.
Also, presuming the Billionaire didn't inherit his wealth and was of somewhat reasonable intelligence, had presumably had a lot to lose, he wouldn't have gotten into it completely blind to the situation.
The waivers won't mean much, but equally, I don't expect any financial settlement to be financially significant (To a billionaire), unless insurance kicks in.
A sad event which will end up in the courts where the "winners' will be the lawyers.