New York East River Helicopter Crash Kills 1 Tourist, Critically Injures 2
A Bell 206 helicopter carrying four passengers visiting from England crashed in New York’s East River near a helipad off 34th Street at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET on October 4. According to an msnbc.com article, one passenger has died and two others have been transported to a hospital in critical condition. Rescue teams consisted mostly of the NYPD and at least seven boats. While the pilot and three passengers were rescued from the water not too long after the helicopter crashed, the body of the fourth tourist wasn’t recovered until an hour later.
A witness to the helicopter accident in New York said she saw the chopper do “a funny curlicue”, thinking that it was a “daredevil move”, eventually realizing that it was in fact out of control. The witness also said that the helicopter went about 25 feet into the air before it dropped into the water and flipped over with its blades protruding out of the river. Individuals on the nearby dock threw life jackets and buoys into the water with hopes of helping the helicopter’s occupants.
Bell 206 Jet Rangers are known as one of the world’s most popular helicopter models because of being light and easy to maneuver. Many television stations and air taxi companies use these models. While it is unclear at this time as to what exactly led to the helicopter accident, investigators will likely examine pilot error as well as the condition of the helicopter in regards to maintenance and defective parts.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) updated regulations for aircrafts flying over New York City rivers after the plane helicopter accident in 2009 that killed nine people. Pilots are now required to call out their positions on the radio in addition to adhering to a 161 mph speed limit.
At Wingate, Rusotti & Shapiro, LLP, our skilled New York helicopter crash attorneys have years of experience successfully handling serious injury and wrongful death cases. To find out more about how we can help you obtain compensation from negligent parties, call 212-986-7353 today for a free consultation.
