NTSB confirms bird strike caused helicopter crash in Hudson River
Four individuals died when a helicopter struck geese, causing it to plunge into the icy Hudson River, according to the US National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation findings.
The report indicates a critical need for enhanced regulations around bird strike prevention, reflecting the potential dangers posed by large birds like geese in aviation.
“The investigation revealed multiple geese had impacted the helicopter’s rotor blades, highlighting the risk posed by large birds in aviation.”
Goose flock behind crash of Siemens CEO’s family in New York
Published on
Just before take-off, there was time for one last family photo – a few minutes later the head of Siemens’ Spanish division, Agustín Escobar, his wife and their three children aged eleven, seven and four, together with the helicopter pilot, plunged into the icy Hudson River.
More than a year after the disaster, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the findings of its investigation. According to the report, investigators discovered the remains of several geese in the helicopter’s rotor blades.
According to police, four people died at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries later in hospital.
Bird strikes are a routine occurrence in aviation, but serious accidents caused by geese are extremely rare. Large flocking birds such as geese, however, can cause considerable damage on impact.