A sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson river near the New Jersey shore on Thursday, killing all six people on board — including a Spanish family of five and the pilot, a US navy veteran.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the probe, which is still in its early stages. Authorities say the aircraft broke apart mid-air, and some key parts are still missing.
This incident is part of a series of aviation accidents in the US in recent months, raising broader concerns about air travel safety in the country.
A sudden tragedy
The crash happened less than 20 minutes after take-off from a Manhattan heliport.
Witnesses described smoke pouring from the aircraft and parts falling into the Hudson river before the helicopter slammed into the water. Divers and rescue boats rushed to the scene and recovered the wreckage by evening.
The helicopter company, New York Helicopter, said it had no idea what caused the crash.
Who were the victims?
The passengers were identified as Agustin Escobar, a 49-year-old Siemens executive; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39; and their children — Victor, 4; Mercedes, 8; and Agustin, 10. They had travelled to New York to join Escobar during his work trip.
The pilot was 36-year-old Seankese Johnson, a navy veteran who had recently moved to New York. He had logged about 800 flight hours and earned his commercial licence in 2023.
What happened?
So far, investigators have not confirmed what caused the mid-air breakup. The NTSB chair said they would not speculate while parts like the rotors and transmission remain missing, reported news agency Associated Press.
However, experts believe a mechanical failure may have caused the main rotors to hit the tail, breaking the aircraft apart. An aviation lawyer also noted the video suggests a catastrophic failure that gave the pilot no chance to regain control.
The owner of New York Helicopter admitted he was baffled, adding, “these are machines, and they break.”
A troubled company history
New York Helicopter has had a bumpy past. One of its helicopters lost power in 2013, though the pilot landed it safely on the Hudson.
It has previously declared bankruptcy and still faces lawsuits over unpaid debts.
The helicopter involved in Thursday’s crash was built in 2004 and had a reported transmission issue in 2023. FAA records show it had logged over 12,700 flight hours.
Aviation safety under scrutiny
This incident is the latest in a worrying trend. Since 1977, at least 38 people have died in helicopter crashes in New York City. A 2018 East River crash killed five people, and a rooftop collision in 2019 killed one. Elsewhere in US, recent months have seen multiple fatal crashes, including a midair collision and a medical plane crash.