1 week Ago By People
The operator of the helicopter that crashed in the Hudson River , killing all six people on board, is speaking out. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said during a press conference the crash happened around 3:17 p.m.
, on Thursday, April 10, shortly after the helicopter took off from downtown N.Y.C.
just before 3:00 p.m. Three adults, including the pilot, and three children were on board.
Preliminary information showed that the family was visiting from Spain. Related: Family of 5 Dead After Helicopter Is Seen Crashing into Hudson River Near N.Y.
C. Four bodies of victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while the other two were taken to a local hospital and then pronounced dead, according to NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.
The helicopter was described as a Bell 206 by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating alongside the National Transportation Safety Board. According to the New York Post , the helicopter was operated by New York Helicopter Tours. CEO Michael Roth said he was "devastated" after the incident.
Related: N.Y.C.
Helicopter Crash Live Updates: Tourist Family Among 6 Victims "It’s devastation. I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated. I’m absolutely devastated," he told the outlet.
“The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter," he said. "And I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years being in business, in the helicopter business." Speaking to what may have caused the plane to go down he theorized that it could have been a "that it either had a bird strike or the main rotor blades failed.
" Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I have no clue. I don’t know," he said, adding, "These are machines and they break.
" Read the original article on People.
