Recovery Efforts Continue: New York Helicopter Crash Lacks Flight Data Recorders

Following the tragic helicopter crash in the Hudson River near Manhattan, divers have recovered additional wreckage, including the main fuselage containing the cockpit and cabin. However, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the helicopter was not equipped with flight data recorders, nor were any video or camera recorders found on board that could provide valuable information for the investigation into the cause of the accident.

The accident, which occurred on a Thursday afternoon, resulted in the deaths of a family of five and the pilot. Among the deceased was Agustín Escobar, a 49-year-old manager at Siemens Mobility, along with his wife. Escobar was known for his leadership in the Rail Infrastructure division, based in Berlin, while his wife was employed at Siemens Energy.

In the wake of the incident, NTSB investigators conducted meetings with the helicopter's operating company, New York Helicopter Charter Inc., to review operational records, safety protocols, and the pilot's experience. The last major inspection of the helicopter took place on March 1, and prior to the crash, the helicopter had completed seven successful flights that day. The accident occurred during the eighth flight.

Details surrounding the crash remain unclear. Initial reports indicate that the helicopter took off shortly after 3 PM local time, flying over Downtown Manhattan before heading south along the Hudson River, then returning towards the northern end of Manhattan. Minutes later, the pilot seemingly lost control, resulting in the aircraft plunging into the river near the New Jersey shoreline.

The ongoing investigation aims to determine the factors that led to this tragic accident, as the NTSB continues to gather and analyze evidence from the wreckage.