Lagatar24 Desk
New York: The helicopter crash that killed six people, including a senior executive of Siemens AG and his family, in the Hudson River has raised serious safety concerns after federal investigators revealed that the aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder.
Helicopter Was On Eighth Sightseeing Trip Of The Day
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Bell 206 L-4 helicopter had already completed seven sightseeing trips before it plunged into the Hudson River shortly after takeoff on Thursday. The aircraft was operating its eighth trip when the tragic incident occurred near Jersey City, New Jersey.
No Flight Or Voice Recorder Onboard
The NTSB confirmed in its latest investigative update on Saturday that the helicopter lacked essential safety devices such as a cockpit voice recorder or flight data recorder. No onboard video or camera devices have been recovered from the crash site either.
Search Operations Still Underway For Critical Parts
Divers from the New York City Police Department are continuing to search the river for crucial components, including the main rotor, tail rotor, main gearbox, and a large section of the tail boom. Scanning sonar is being used to locate potential wreckage, and recovery efforts will resume into Sunday.
The NTSB added that several parts of the aircraft — such as the cockpit, cabin, parts of the tail boom, and stabilizer finlets — have already been recovered and will be sent to NTSB laboratories in Washington for detailed examination.
Pilot Experience Under Review
The pilot had logged a total of 788 flight hours as of late March. However, investigators are still trying to ascertain how many of these hours were specifically flown in the Bell 206 model.
New York Helicopter Charter’s Troubling Safety Record
The helicopter belonged to New York Helicopter Charter Inc., a company that has faced scrutiny in the past for safety issues. Investigators have met with company representatives to review operational policies, safety procedures, and maintenance records.
New York Helicopter has a history of safety incidents, including an emergency landing in the Hudson River in 2013 due to engine failure caused by “improper maintenance decisions” and a hard landing in 2015 attributed to the reuse of an “unairworthy” component.
Company Expresses Condolences, Cooperating With Probe
Following the crash, New York Helicopter CEO Michael Roth expressed deep sorrow, saying the company was “tragically sorry for what happened” and is fully cooperating with the NTSB investigation.
