Bird strike likely caused New York City helicopter crash in Hudson River: NTSB

Key Points:

• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released over 2,000 pages of information indicating that a bird strike likely contributed to the fatal Hudson River helicopter crash in April 2025, which killed all six people on board.
• Analysis by the Smithsonian Institution’s Feather Identification Lab found the helicopter collided with multiple large birds, including Canada Geese and black-backed Gulls, which struck the rotor blades and horizontal stabilizer.
• The helicopter was carrying Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife, and their three children when it crashed; family lawyers are reviewing the NTSB documents but emphasize that the final cause has not yet been determined.
• Witnesses reported hearing loud noises and seeing parts fall from the helicopter before it plunged into the river, while bird strikes remain a common hazard with over 20,000 incidents involving civilian aircraft in the U.S. in 2024.
• The NTSB's final report on the probable cause of the crash has not been released, and the helicopter company, New York Helicopter Charter Inc., ceased operations following the accident.