Introduction
National Transportation Safety Board officials have begun the official federal investigation of the NYC sightseeing helicopter crash that killed five Spaniard tourists and a pilot. The investigation is still in its early stages, but officials will be looking at every piece of information, from weather conditions to past maintenance records.
What to Know
- National Transportation Safety Board officials are conducting the official federal investigation of the NYC sightseeing helicopter crash.
- A helicopter like the one involved in the crash may not have had a so-called black box, a flight recorder device used to help investigators in their investigation.
- New York Helicopter Tours, the company involved in the crash, has been involved in two other chopper incidents, with the most recent dating to 2015.
The Crash
The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Tours, took off from the Wall Street heliport at 2:59 p.m. on Tuesday, circling near the Statue of Liberty and the George Washington Bridge. Subsequently, the helicopter circled south, flying on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River when at around 3:17 p.m. 9-1-1 calls reported a chopper crash near the Holland Tunnel.
Past Incidents
Thursday’s crash is not the first aviation incident for the sightseeing company. Records from the National Transportation Safety Board show New York Helicopter Tours had two past incidents involving helicopter crashes. In June 2013, a helicopter carrying a Swedish family made an emergency landing in the Hudson River after the chopper lost power shortly after takeoff. The pilot, along with two adults and two children, were safely pulled out of the submerged chopper.
Recent Incidents
Two years later, in May 2015, a Bell 206L-3 New York Helicopter chopper was "substantially damaged" during a hard landing in Kearny, New Jersey, leaving the pilot injured. The subsequent investigation from the NTSB found that there was a deliberate concealment and reuse of an "unairworthy" tail rotor driveshaft by unknown personnel.
History of Helicopter Crashes in NYC
Since 1977, at least 37 people have died in helicopter crashes in New York City, when an accident on a skyscraper landing pad led to restrictions on where choppers could land. In 2019, two crashes occurred within a month. A pilot was killed on June 10, 2019 after hitting the roof of a skyscraper amid poor weather conditions. The helicopter struck the 750-foot AXA Equitable building, sparking a fire that forced office workers to flee.
Conclusion
The investigation into the recent helicopter crash in NYC is ongoing, and officials will be working to determine the cause of the crash. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety in aviation and the need for rigorous maintenance and inspection of aircraft.
FAQs
- What is the current status of the investigation into the helicopter crash?
The investigation is ongoing, and officials are working to determine the cause of the crash. - Has New York Helicopter Tours been involved in any other incidents?
Yes, the company has been involved in two other chopper incidents, with the most recent dating to 2015. - How many people have died in helicopter crashes in New York City since 1977?
At least 37 people have died in helicopter crashes in New York City since 1977.
