NTSB: Bird Strike Likely Caused Fatal NYC Helicopter Crash
WHO:
ABC News - The victims included Agustin Escobar, 49; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39; their three children, Victor, 4; Mercedes, 8; and Agustin, 10; and the pilot Seankese Johnson, 36.
ABC News - Seankese Johnson was a U.S. Navy veteran who received his commercial pilot’s license in 2023.
ABC News - Jason Costello was the director of operations for New York Helicopter Tours.
WHAT:
CBS News - The NTSB report confirmed that a bird strike most likely caused the helicopter crash in the Hudson River that killed six people.
CBS News - The NTSB found bird remains in the wreckage of the Bell 206L-4 helicopter and the surrounding area.
CBS News - The NTSB described evidence and witness reports that suggest the helicopter struck several birds before it plummeted into the river.
CBS News - The NTSB report confirmed that a bird strike most likely caused the helicopter crash in the Hudson River that killed six people.
CBS News - The NTSB found bird remains in the wreckage of the Bell 206L-4 helicopter and the surrounding area.
ABC News - The NTSB described evidence and witness reports that suggest the helicopter struck several birds before it plummeted into the river.
ABC News - The FAA issued an emergency order to ground all flights of New York Helicopter Tours after the company fired its operations director minutes after he agreed to suspend flights during the investigation.
ABC News - The company’s director of operations, Jason Costello, agreed to voluntarily halt flights while the crash was being investigated, but was terminated shortly after sending an email to the FAA regarding the suspension.
ABC News - A helicopter crash into the Hudson River killed 6 people.
CBS News - The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that a bird strike most likely caused the crash.
ABC News - The NTSB found remains of several geese in the wreckage of the Bell 206L-4 helicopter.
ABC News - The crash prompted New Jersey’s governor to request additional restrictions on nonessential helicopter flights.
ABC News - New York Helicopter Tours shut down after the crash, and the FAA issued an emergency order to ground all the company’s flights.
WHERE:
ABC News - The crash occurred in the Hudson River near New York City.
ABC News - The helicopter took off from a downtown heliport in Manhattan.
WHEN:
ABC News - The helicopter crash occurred on April 10, 2025.
CBS News - The NTSB report was released on a Thursday.
WHY:
CBS News - The FAA stated that helicopters are especially vulnerable to bird strikes because they fly at low altitudes.
ABC News - Helicopters are especially vulnerable to bird strikes because they fly at low altitudes.
HOW:
CBS News - The FAA stated that helicopters are especially vulnerable to bird strikes because they fly at low altitudes.
ABC News - The company’s chief executive officer sent an email to the FAA stating he did not authorize the halt and that Costello was no longer an employee, just 16 minutes after Costello's email.
ABC News - Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter’s tail and main rotor breaking away and smoke pouring from the helicopter before it crashed.
ABC News - Rescue boats circled the submerged aircraft within minutes of impact and recovered the bodies from the water.
ABC News - Recovery crews hoisted the mangled helicopter out of the river for investigation.
(UPDATED July 17, 2026 02:54 UTC)
A recent NTSB report has confirmed that a bird strike most likely caused the tragic helicopter crash in the Hudson River that resulted in the deaths of six people. The investigation revealed bird remains in the wreckage of the Bell 206L-4 helicopter and surrounding area, along with evidence and witness accounts indicating that the helicopter struck multiple birds before descending into the water. The FAA noted that helicopters are particularly susceptible to bird strikes due to their operation at low altitudes.
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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 22:21 UTC)
A recent NTSB report has confirmed that a bird strike was most likely the cause of the tragic helicopter crash in the Hudson River that resulted in six fatalities. The investigation revealed bird remains in the wreckage of the Bell 206L-4 helicopter and the surrounding area. According to the FAA, helicopters are particularly susceptible to bird strikes due to their operation at low altitudes.
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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 21:20 UTC)
The National Transportation Safety Board has revealed evidence and witness accounts indicating that a helicopter struck several birds before it crashed into a river. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency order grounding all flights of New York Helicopter Tours after the company fired its operations director, Jason Costello, who had just agreed to suspend flights during the investigation. The company's CEO quickly followed up with an email to the FAA, stating he did not authorize the suspension and that Costello was no longer with the company, just 16 minutes after Costello's email.
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(UPDATED July 16, 2026 20:19 UTC)
A tragic helicopter crash into the Hudson River claimed the lives of six people, including Agustin Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, their three children, and pilot Seankese Johnson, a U.S. Navy veteran. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that a bird strike likely caused the accident, with remains of several geese found in the wreckage of the Bell 206L-4 helicopter. In the aftermath, New Jersey’s governor requested additional restrictions on nonessential helicopter flights, while New York Helicopter Tours suspended operations and the FAA issued an emergency order grounding all the company’s flights.