Five passengers who died in a helicopter crash into New York City’s East River on Sunday were strapped into the doorless Airbus AS350 by five-point harnesses and screwed-down carabiner shackles that required a knife to cut through the nylon safety straps that held the occupants inside, according to reports. When the single-engine helicopter went down in the frigid water, emergency floats kept it from sinking and the pilot managed to swim to safety, but the passengers had no way of quick escape. They were dragged by the river’s currents south for 50 blocks, upside down and underwater, before rescue divers reached them.
Helicopter Tour Industry Under Intense Scrutiny after New York Crash
Key Takeaways:
- Five passengers died in a New York City East River helicopter crash because they were secured by harnesses requiring a knife to cut, preventing escape from the submerged, upside-down aircraft, while the pilot escaped.
- These "doors-off" flights, marketed to tourists for city views, use harnesses traditionally meant for professionals, and critics contend safety briefings are inadequate, particularly regarding emergency escape procedures and knife locations.
- The fatal incident has sparked intense scrutiny from safety experts and politicians, who are calling for federal regulation of such extreme passenger restraints in commercial tour operations and demanding a suspension of the operator's certificate.
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