New York helicopter crash case: What we know so far

A sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson river close to the New Jersey shore on Thursday, killing all six folks on board — together with a Spanish household of 5 and the pilot, a US navy veteran.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is main the probe, which continues to be in its early levels. Authorities say the plane broke aside mid-air, and a few key elements are nonetheless lacking.
This incident is a part of a collection of aviation accidents within the US in current months, elevating broader issues about air journey security within the nation.
A sudden tragedy
The crash occurred lower than 20 minutes after take-off from a Manhattan heliport.
Witnesses described smoke pouring from the plane and elements falling into the Hudson river earlier than the helicopter slammed into the water. Divers and rescue boats rushed to the scene and recovered the wreckage by night.
The helicopter firm, New York Helicopter, mentioned it had no thought what triggered the crash.
Who had been the victims?
The passengers had been recognized as Agustin Escobar, a 49-year-old Siemens govt; his spouse, Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39; and their kids — Victor, 4; Mercedes, 8; and Agustin, 10. They had travelled to New York to hitch Escobar throughout his work journey.
The pilot was 36-year-old Seankese Johnson, a navy veteran who had not too long ago moved to New York. He had logged about 800 flight hours and earned his industrial licence in 2023.

What occurred?
So far, investigators haven’t confirmed what triggered the mid-air breakup. The NTSB chair mentioned they might not speculate whereas elements just like the rotors and transmission stay lacking, reported information company Associated Press.
However, specialists consider a mechanical failure could have triggered the primary rotors to hit the tail, breaking the plane aside. An aviation lawyer additionally famous the video suggests a catastrophic failure that gave the pilot no likelihood to regain management.
The proprietor of New York Helicopter admitted he was baffled, including, “these are machines, and they break.”
A troubled firm historical past
New York Helicopter has had a bumpy previous. One of its helicopters misplaced energy in 2013, although the pilot landed it safely on the Hudson.
It has beforehand declared chapter and nonetheless faces lawsuits over unpaid money owed.
The helicopter concerned in Thursday’s crash was in-built 2004 and had a reported transmission challenge in 2023. FAA information present it had logged over 12,700 flight hours.
Aviation security below scrutiny
This incident is the newest in a worrying development. Since 1977, not less than 38 folks have died in helicopter crashes in New York City. A 2018 East River crash killed 5 folks, and a rooftop collision in 2019 killed one. Elsewhere in US, current months have seen a number of deadly crashes, together with a midair collision and a medical airplane crash.