While divers use side-scanning sonar to comb the Hudson River for helicopter crash debris that left six dead, the NTSB revealed the aircraft had no flight data recorders on board.
In a report on the investigation, the agency said that “no video or camera recordings have been recovered” and that the helicopter’s electronic equipment did not record any data that could be useful in the investigation.
The NTSB reports that the helicopter underwent its last major inspection on March 1. The NTSB states that the helicopter was on its eighth tour on the day of the accident, after completing seven previous tours.
The agency reports that all the main fuselage components, including the cockpit and cabin, the forward portion tail booms, the horizontal stabilizer finlets, and the vertical fins, have been recovered.
The agency said that some samples will be sent to Washington, D.C., NTSB Lab, for further inspection.
Divers continued their work on Saturday to recover more pieces of the helicopter. The main gearbox, tail rotor, and a large portion of the tail boom were among the pieces recovered.
The NTSB announced on Sunday that recovery efforts in the river will continue.
The family on board was Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, 49; his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, 39; and their children, ages 4, 8, and 10, officials said.
According to Jersey City Mayor Fulop, the family travelled to New York City to meet Escobar, who was in the U.S. on business.
According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the death of the family occurred just one day before the 8-year-old’s birthday.
Officials confirmed the death of 36-year-old pilot Seankese “Sam” Johnson.
According to the NTSB, Johnson had accrued 788 hours of total flight time.
Johnson was “an amazing man,” said Matt Klier, his friend from the Navy and a fellow helicopter pilot.
According to officials, the fatal crash occurred on Thursday at 3:17 pm. This was less than 15 minutes following takeoff. According to officials, the helicopter crashed when it reached the George Washington Bridge.
