A tragic helicopter tour in New York City turned deadly when a Bell 206 L-4 aircraft plunged into the Hudson River.
According to Fox News, newly released aerial footage shows New York City Police Department divers rushing into the murky waters of the Hudson River to recover the bodies of six victims, including three children, after a tour helicopter crashed on April 10.
The victims were identified as Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, who worked as a global manager at an energy technology company, their three young children, and the pilot. The NYPD's diving unit, which was already in the area searching for a missing person, responded to the scene within 8-10 minutes of receiving the distress call.
Challenging conditions hamper recovery efforts
NYPD Scuba Unit Officer Joseph Frevola described the difficult circumstances the rescue team faced during the recovery operation. Strong currents had flipped the helicopter, forcing divers to maintain their position by holding onto the aircraft while securing it to a crane.
The dive team successfully located and recovered the main fuselage, including the cockpit and cabin, as well as portions of the tail boom, horizontal stabilizer finlets, and vertical fin. Their swift response was crucial in retrieving the victims' bodies and securing evidence for the investigation.
The helicopter's operator, New York Helicopter Charter Inc., confirmed that the aircraft had undergone its last inspection on March 1 and had completed seven tour flights before the fatal crash.
Investigation faces setback with missing flight data
The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation has encountered significant challenges due to the absence of flight recorders on the aircraft. Neither onboard video recorders nor camera recorders were recovered from the wreckage.
The lack of recorded flight data has left investigators without crucial information that could help determine the cause of the crash. The NTSB is currently utilizing side-scanning sonar technology to search for additional wreckage that might provide clues about the accident.
The aviation authority is meticulously examining all available evidence, including maintenance records and weather conditions at the time of the incident, to piece together the sequence of events that led to the crash.
Fatal tour leaves lasting impact on New York City
The tragic accident has sent shockwaves through the New York City tourism industry and raised questions about the safety of helicopter tours. The crash site, located near the Jersey City coastline, drew immediate response from multiple emergency agencies.
NYPD Scuba Unit Officer Frevola shared details about the recovery operation:
The call came over, and we headed to the helicopter crash as quickly as possible. The current had flipped and [weather conditions were] pretty bad. We were horizontal, holding on to the helicopter, as we were rigging it up to hook up to the crane.
Local authorities continue to monitor the area as the investigation progresses, with specialized equipment being deployed to ensure all relevant debris is recovered from the river.
Fatal helicopter crash prompts ongoing investigation
The April 10 Hudson River helicopter crash claimed the lives of the Escobar-Camprubí family and their pilot when their Bell 206 L-4 aircraft crashed during what was meant to be a routine tour of New York City. The NYPD dive team's quick response led to the recovery of all six victims and crucial parts of the wreckage. As the NTSB continues its investigation without the benefit of flight recorder data, authorities are working diligently to determine the cause of this devastating accident that has left the city mourning the loss of an entire family.
