not paid due to accident

My husband works as a pilot for an aerial applicator company. They spray at night and recently my husband accidentally sprayed a wrong field causing damages of $30,000 to the crop. The employer has informed my husband he needs to pay for half ($15,000). Is this legal? Side note: The employer has insurance but doesn't want to use it because it will make his rates go up.

[Bricks41]

My opinion is no, simply because companies take on a certain about of risk no matter the situation. They cannot simply pass on the cost to the employee directly, especially since employers carry insurance for situations like that.

Example... hmm... Nurse gives the wrong injection to the patient... while it was the nurse's fault, it was ultimately the doctors responsibilty to make sure it was done correctly. Your husband may be terminated for the mistake but by no means should be responisble for paying for the error.

Stick with that and DON'T PAY FOR ANYTHING.