NTSB Releases Witness Photos of Hudson River Helicopter Crash, Investigation Continues

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released witness photos depicting the harrowing moments before a tour helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on April 10, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board. The photos, made public on Wednesday, reveal the Bell 206L-4 aircraft breaking apart in mid-air before plunging into the water.

While the definitive cause of the catastrophic event remains under investigation, a preliminary report issued by the NTSB highlights witness accounts describing multiple loud bangs emanating from the helicopter just prior to its disintegration. The aircraft reportedly broke into three major sections before crashing into the river.

The released photos offer a chilling sequence of events. The initial image shows the fuselage, containing the engine and the main rotor blade assembly, completely separating from the tail boom. A subsequent photo reveals the main rotor blades, along with the attached transmission and roof structure, having detached from the fuselage. The visual evidence underscores the severity of the in-flight structural failure.

The NTSB is meticulously examining all potential factors that could have contributed to the crash. As the investigation unfolds, the NTSB emphasizes that “everything is on the table.”

Flight tracking data obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides insights into the helicopter’s flight path. The helicopter departed from the Downtown Manhattan/Wall Street Heliport in New York City. Its initial route involved a teardrop-shaped pattern south of the Statue of Liberty. Subsequently, the aircraft proceeded north along the eastern side of the Hudson River, parallel to Manhattan. It continued past the George Washington Bridge before executing a U-turn and then heading south along the New Jersey side of the river.

According to the FAA data, as the helicopter approached the Holland Tunnel ventilation towers near Jersey City, New Jersey, it experienced a rapid change in altitude. The helicopter climbed to approximately 675 feet before beginning a precipitous descent. Its last recorded altitude was a mere 125 feet.

The fuselage of the downed helicopter came to rest upside down north of the Holland Tunnel ventilation towers, in approximately six feet of water. The main rotor and tail boom sections were discovered north of the fuselage, submerged in about 30 feet of water. The recovery efforts also yielded debris from the surface of the river and from a rooftop near the NJ Transit building in Hoboken, New Jersey. The NTSB has clarified that there is no indication that the helicopter collided with the building.

Adding to the complexity of the investigation is the absence of onboard video or data recording devices on the helicopter. However, pre-flight photos of the pilot revealed that he was wearing computer-augmented sunglasses, which officials believe possessed video and audio recording capabilities. Unfortunately, these sunglasses have not been recovered, potentially depriving investigators of valuable information.

The tragic crash claimed the lives of all six individuals on board, including a Navy SEAL veteran pilot, two adults, and three children. Five of the victims have been identified as members of a Spanish family. Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three young children were among those who perished in the disaster.

In the aftermath of the devastating incident, New York Helicopter Tours, the company that operated the tour helicopter, announced its immediate cessation of operations. The closure marks the end of a chapter for the company.

New Jersey Transit has not yet issued a formal response regarding the incident.

The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, and the release of witness photos represents a significant step in understanding the sequence of events that led to the tragic Hudson River helicopter crash. The investigation will likely focus on mechanical factors, maintenance records, pilot training, and environmental conditions to determine the underlying cause of the accident. The recovered debris will undergo thorough examination by experts to assess any signs of pre-existing structural weaknesses or failures. The absence of a flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder poses a challenge, making the witness accounts and recovered evidence even more critical to the investigation’s success. The hope is that the investigation will provide answers and recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The safety of air tours and helicopter operations will undoubtedly be scrutinized in the wake of this incident. The NTSB’s final report, when released, will likely have a lasting impact on the regulations and practices governing the industry.