As recovery crews continue combing the Hudson River for wreckage from last week’s deadly helicopter crash, federal investigators revealed that a critical component of the investigation is missing: flight data.
In a statement released Saturday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that the Bell 206 L-4 helicopter was not equipped with any flight recorders or video equipment capable of capturing data useful to investigators.
“No onboard flight recorders, video recorders, or avionics captured usable information,” the NTSB said.
The tragic crash on Thursday killed five tourists from Spain and the pilot, Seankese Johnson, a Navy veteran who had earned his commercial pilot’s license in 2023 and logged over 800 flight hours.
Recovery efforts continue with NYPD divers and sonar equipment searching for crucial components including the main rotor, gearbox, tail rotor, and tail boom—much of which remains submerged.
Calls for Federal Action Mount
At a press conference on Sunday, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) demanded an immediate suspension of New York Helicopter Tours’ operating certificate, the company that launched the doomed flight from the Wall Street Heliport.
Schumer noted that the company operates under the FAA’s Part 91 certificate, which does not require the same level of training, oversight, or safety protocols as commercial passenger operations.
“Right now, New York Helicopter Tours is under federal investigation,” Schumer said. “But first, I’m urging the FAA to pull their certificate immediately and halt all flights until the investigation is complete.”
The senator also called for tougher regulations and surprise ramp inspections at all metro-area tour helicopter operators.
“These are risky flights, and the FAA must do more to ensure passenger safety,” Schumer added.
City Officials Divided
While Schumer called for sweeping changes, New York City Mayor Eric Adams took a different tone, defending helicopter tours as a vital part of the city’s tourism economy.
“This is part of what brings people to the city,” Adams said during a Fox 5 interview Friday. “We just need to ensure it’s done safely.”
Meanwhile, New York Helicopter Tours said it is fully cooperating with federal investigators as the probe continues.
Without flight data or cockpit recordings, investigators are expected to rely heavily on physical wreckage analysis, witness accounts, and maintenance records. The last major inspection of the aircraft was completed on March 1, and the helicopter reportedly completed seven tour flights the day of the crash.
As the search and investigation proceed, pressure continues to mount on federal regulators to tighten oversight over sightseeing helicopter operations in one of the world’s busiest urban airspaces.
