Six people were killed when their helicopter crashed into the Hudson River the afternoon of April 10. According to a CBS New York news report, the incident occurred around 3:17 p.m. near the Holland Tunnel ventilation shaft in Jersey City, not far from River Drive South and Newport Parkway. New York Mayor Eric Adams said the pilot and a family from Spain including three adults and three children were killed in the accident.
Their bodies have been recovered, Adams said. Officials said NYPD and other emergency units responded to the scene of the crash. Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene and two more were transported to area hospitals where they succumbed to their injuries. We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased victims for their tragic loss. They will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Possible Mechanical Issues
Officials said that after takeoff, the helicopter flew over Governor’s Island and then near the Statue of Liberty before heading up the Hudson along Manhattan’s West Side before turning around just past the George Washington Bridge and flying back down along the Jersey side of the river. CBS reports that flight path records show for at least the last week, the helicopter has traveled to and from airports and heliports in the area with multiple flights per day. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are both investigating the crash.
Witnesses described helicopter parts coming apart in mid-air before the chopper plummeted down. Debris could be seen flying off the aircraft as it plunged into the river, officials said, adding that the helicopter struck the water inverted. Based on the news article, experts who have seen the crash footage told CBS that it appears to be some type of mechanical issue and “a catastrophic failure of the aircraft.”
In 2019, a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River shortly after refueling. In that case, the pilot was the sole occupant and suffered minor injuries. In 2016, a vintage plane went down during a celebration for the American Airpower Museum, killing its pilot. The most high-profile crash was in January 2009 when a plane suffered a bird-strike and landed on the Hudson with pilot Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, saving the lives of 155 passengers and crew members. The cause of Thursday’s helicopter crash is still under investigation.
Liability Issues in a Helicopter Crash
Liability in a helicopter crash can be complex and may involve multiple parties. The operator of the helicopter is often the primary party held responsible, especially if negligence (carelessness) — such as poor maintenance, pilot error or inadequate safety procedures — were involved. Manufacturers of the helicopter or its components can also be held liable if a mechanical failure contributed to the crash and/or if the crash resulted from a design or production defect.
Tour companies that organize helicopter tours can share liability, particularly if they failed to properly vet the operator or ignored known safety issues. In some cases, government entities may also be held liable if the crash was influenced by inadequate air traffic control, poor regulation or failure to maintain a safe airspace.
Adding to the complexity of such cases, insurance companies also play a major role as aviation liability insurance is typically required for commercial operators. Victims or their families may be able to file a civil wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit, seeking compensation including, but not limited to medical bills, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in an aviation accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an airplane accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/hudson-river-helicopter-crash/