Overview
- The NTSB released more than 2,000 pages of investigative material on Thursday that include a Smithsonian Division of Birds report identifying remains from a mixed flock of geese on the helicopter's rotor blades and left horizontal stabilizer.
- Witnesses told investigators they saw large flocks near the Hudson River and described the helicopter's tail and main rotor breaking away before it plunged into the water on April 10, 2025.
- A separate NTSB video analysis found no discernible bird-strike evidence in available footage and noted limits from distance, lighting, and image quality, leaving some forensic questions unresolved.
- The crash led the FAA to ground New York Helicopter Tours and the company suspended operations after internal disputes over halting flights, including the firing of an operations director who had sought to stop services.
- Investigators and regulators say helicopters are vulnerable to bird strikes at low altitudes, the NTSB has not yet issued a probable cause, and the new physical and witness evidence could influence safety rules for sightseeing flights.