Authorities have now confirmed the identities of all six individuals aboard the sightseeing helicopter that went down in the Hudson River near New Jersey, as investigators continue to search the murky waters for remaining fragments of the aircraft.

The victims of the April 10 tragedy include the pilot, 36-year-old Seankese Johnson, and a family of five from Spain. Among them was Agustin Escobar, a Siemens technology executive, his wife, and their three children, ages 4, 8, and 10.

Escobar had originally traveled to New York City for work but decided to extend his stay to celebrate his daughter’s ninth birthday on April 11, according to Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.

The Bell 206 helicopter went down near Jersey City, New Jersey, at approximately 3:15 p.m., shortly after departing from a Manhattan heliport for a scenic flight over the city, according to authorities. The aircraft was being flown by New York Helicopter Charter Inc. and was registered to Louisiana-based Meridian Helicopters LLC.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an inquiry to determine what led to the crash. During a press briefing, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that dive crews were continuing to comb the Hudson River for more wreckage from the helicopter.

Homendy called on anyone who witnessed the crash to share any photos or videos they may have captured and emphasized the need for patience as the investigation unfolds. “We don’t make assumptions — we work to verify the facts,” she said. “This is a process that requires time and thoroughness.”

Authorities Investigate Bird Presence Near Crash Site

At a recent press briefing, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that investigators are looking into claims that a sizable group of birds was present in the vicinity when the helicopter went down.

“This is definitely an aspect we’ll be examining closely,” Homendy remarked regarding the reported bird activity.

Pilot Logged Extensive Flight Hours, Says NTSB

The pilot, identified as Johnson, had logged several hundred hours of flight time, according to Homendy. She shared that he possessed a commercial pilot license and had reached 788 total hours in the air by March.

However, it remains unclear how many of those hours were specifically spent flying the Bell helicopter—the same model that crashed into the Hudson River on April 11.

Johnson, aged 36, had only recently relocated to New York City, based on details from his Facebook profile. A profile photo dated March 28 shows him piloting an aircraft near One World Trade Center, while other images display flights past Chicago’s Willis Tower, his hometown landmark.

His social media also indicates that he served in the U.S. Navy before becoming a civilian pilot.

Recovery Efforts Continue at Crash Site
Homendy noted that NTSB crews have started retrieving parts of the downed helicopter, including its engine, for further examination.

Meanwhile, NYPD divers are still actively searching the crash zone for critical components, such as the helicopter’s rooftop, tail assembly, and main rotor system. So far, investigators have not reached any preliminary conclusions regarding what caused the crash.

Video Captures Final Moments of Helicopter Before Impact

Shortly after hitting the water, a part of the rotor system is seen detaching from the aircraft and falling separately.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the accident an “unthinkable tragedy,” saying, “Five Spanish citizens from the same family—three of them children—along with the pilot, have lost their lives.

The Business Behind NYC’s Helicopter Tours
Tour helicopters are a major industry in New York City, contributing approximately $78 million to the local economy each year.

However, these flights have drawn increasing criticism over safety and noise pollution. Since 1977, at least 38 individuals have died in helicopter crashes within the city. Complaints about helicopter noise have surged dramatically—by 2,000% in five years—prompting the council hearing in which Sun shared the data, said Council Member Amanda Farías.

In response, many residents and lawmakers have advocated for a complete prohibition of non-essential helicopter flights, including tourist rides and commuter services, which far outnumber operations by emergency responders and media crews.

Visitors Rethink Aerial Tours of NYC Skyline
Helicopter sightseeing has long been a popular way to take in Manhattan’s famous skyline, but Thursday’s crash has made some tourists rethink the idea.

Visiting from Cleveland, Maureen Standing, 46, said she and her partner, Sean Maurath, were content viewing the skyline from above during their plane’s descent into LaGuardia Airport the previous evening.

“We got a great look at the city all lit up from the air,” Standing, a schoolteacher, said while walking near the Empire State Building. “Honestly, I’ve been nervous about flying lately, so a helicopter ride isn’t on the list.”

Seventeen-year-old Broder Weiß said although he had heard about the tours, they didn’t plan to go on one—largely due to his mother’s fear of heights.

“That kind of rules it out for us,” he said. Still, the family did ascend to the observation deck of One World Trade Center, the tallest skyscraper in North America, on Thursday.

Possible Rotor Failure Examined by Experts
Though it’s too early for definitive answers, aviation experts say the video evidence suggests a serious rotor malfunction.

Jim Brauchle, a lawyer specializing in aviation law and a former U.S. “That kind of separation typically points to either a mechanical breakdown or a structural failure,” he explained.

Brauchle also mentioned a rare but known occurrence called “mast bumping,” where the helicopter’s rotor blades angle downward and strike the body of the craft. This can result in the tail being severed. Such incidents often happen when a pilot makes sudden, sharp maneuvers like steep climbs or rapid drops. Though not common, this issue has been observed in smaller helicopters with two-blade systems—common among sightseeing operations.

Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter Tours, told the New York Post that he had never witnessed anything similar in his three decades in the industry.

“The only thing I can even speculate—though I really don’t know—is that either the main rotor failed or there was a bird strike,” Roth said. “But really, I have no idea.”