Tragedy in the air: Helicopter crash kills family of five
The United States is still grappling with the aftermath of a plane crash in New York. What was intended to be a routine tourist flight tragically resulted in the death of six people. American media outlets continue to disclose new information regarding the aircraft's condition. It has been confirmed that there was no flight recorder, commonly known as a black box, on board.
The Bell 206 L-4 helicopter crashed into the Hudson River and was on its eighth flight that day. On board were a family from Spain and the pilot, Navy veteran Sean Johnson. Tragically, none survived. According to "The New York Post," citing information from the National Transportation Safety Board, the aircraft lacked a flight recorder and cameras.
Investigators also reported that no audio recordings were found from the helicopter's cockpit. Most of the wreckage, including the cockpit and cabin, has been recovered and sent to laboratories in Washington, D.C. The main rotor blades have yet to be found. The last inspection of the aircraft occurred on March 1. The investigation into the crash's causes remains active.
The helicopter was mid-flight when the accident occurred. The pilot had requested an emergency landing due to low fuel. Investigations earlier revealed that the helicopter had gearbox issues identified as early as September of last year. The helicopter was manufactured in 2004 and had a certificate of airworthiness issued in 2016, valid until 2029.
The helicopter was on a sightseeing tour over the Hudson River when it crashed. On board were a family from Spain: Augustin, Merce, and their children—Augustin, Mercedes, and Victor. The parents were international executives at Siemens Mobility and arrived in New York hours before celebrating one of their children's birthdays.
I’m absolutely devastated. The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter. And I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years being in business, in the helicopter business – said Michael Roth, head of the company organizing flights over New York, as quoted by "The New York Post".
