The National Transportation Safety Board said on Saturday that the helicopter involved in a crash that killed six people in New York earlier this week was not equipped with any flight recorders and that the accident occurred during the aircraft’s eighth flight of the day.
“No onboard video recorders or camera recorders have been recovered and none of the helicopter avionics onboard recorded information that could be used for the investigation,” the NTSB said in an update.
It added that the helicopter had completed seven tour flights on the day of the crash and that its last “major” inspection took place on March 1.
A Siemens executive, his wife, their three children, and a pilot were killed when a tourism helicopter plummeted into the Hudson River near Manhattan on Thursday.
Agustín Escobar, 49, had been the global CEO of the rail unit for Siemens Mobility. His wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, also worked for the company as the global commercialization manager for its energy division.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar and his family lost their lives. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all their loved ones,” a Siemens spokesperson said on Friday.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams told a press conference on Thursday night that four people were pronounced dead at the scene, and two were taken to the hospital where they later died.
The pilot, who has been identified as US Navy veteran Sean Johnson, was the other victim.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter involved was a Bell 206, and that the NTSB would lead the investigation.
The NTSB said on X that it was “launching a go-team” to investigate the crash.
Videos posted on social media appeared to show the helicopter’s rotor disconnected from the rest of the aircraft, spinning mid-air as the cabin plunged into the water.
Officials said that it appeared the helicopter, which was operated by New York Helicopters Tour Company, had lost control.
In a statement Friday, New York Helicopter Tours said it was “profoundly saddened by the tragic accident and loss of life that occurred on April 10, 2025, involving one of our helicopters in the Hudson River.”
“The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew has always been the cornerstone of our operations. Our immediate focus is supporting the families and their loved ones affected by this tragedy, as well as fully cooperating with the FAA and NTSB investigations,” it continued.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Calls to the helicopter’s registered owner, a Louisiana firm, were unanswered.
The NTSB said Saturday that the helicopter’s main fuselage, the forward portion of the tail boom, the horizontal stabilizer finlets, and the vertical fin had been recovered, but that divers were continuing to search for the main rotor, main gear box, tail rotor, and a large section of the tail boom.
A recent spate of plane crashes has raised awareness of aviation safety.
The Hudson River sees heavy helicopter traffic between airports and tourist flights over landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty. Pilots are required to use specific corridors.
In 2018, five people died after a helicopter made an emergency landing in the East River and flipped upside down, trapping the passengers inside.
The following year a helicopter crash-landed on the roof of a skyscraper, killing the pilot.
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