Yesterday afternoon we saw an absolutely tragic aviation accident in New York, and there are a lot more questions than answers.
Continue reading: Heartbreaking: Helicopter Crashes Into Hudson River, Killing Six People
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Nobody wants to see this sort of occurrence, sincere condolences to all involved.
Very sad indeed. Condolences to the families of the family from Spain and the pilot. I also share Ben’s hesitation at to fly on a helicopter although did so once in New Zealand.
Ben, I share the same fear of helicopters as you do.
I guess it is because of the amount of crashes I've seen it.
And I think that comercial aviation with airplanes has a long chain of safety measures that helicopters don't have.
How is Elon dismantling all government agencies associated with air safety working out for you, Americastan?
I think it's more about physics than chain of safety measures that they do have.
Ignoring the massive amounts of ATC's that were fired over covid vaccines. What does any of that have to do with a privately owned tour helicopter that looks like it suffered some sort of mechanical failure?
You must be off your meds again.
I don't know the requirements, but don't some helicopters have floats that deploy when the helicopter hits water? What was the situation in this case?
As a retired rotary wing aviator, one finds it difficult to accept your submission LP.
An investigation will ensue. A likely cause will be determined. It might have been the failure of a part that was recently inspected and fairly assessed as being fine. It might be something else. Whatever the result, we should appreciate the work of the NTSB.
I love aviation, turbulence in the sky makes me sleep better. In spite of that, you will never see me riding a helicopter. I feel that Airplane becomes safer with multiple redundancy and Helicopter is one problem away from disaster.
And of course the political talk starts. People talking out of their rear end. It was Trump's fault! No, Elon's fault!
Just shows you the aggregate decline in the maturity level of the general public. Likely it had nothing to do with any politician-whether AOC, Schumer, Trump, etc. Instead any number of factors from pilot error, controller error or weather.
For anybody that actual wants facts controllers have not been fired, other than for cause and in fact the FAA is trying to recruit more controllers.
Grow up.
Hope you’ll get the help you need. MDS seems to become a serious health issue for people like you,
Helicopters are like motorcycles. A helicopter pilot is in one of two positions, either they have already been in an accident or they will be.
We all want aviation safety. Inspection is only one facet of it. The political question is to what level we want to fund that safety. I'm not picking sides. Just identifying the issue. Safe travels.
That is awful. I share your fear. I have no problems with airplanes but will not step foot in a helicopter.
Last year on a trip to Hawaii I was a week away from going on a sight seeing tour for the first time in a helicopter. 6 days before that, a sightseeing helicopter crashed on the same island and was all over the news. That confirmed for me I should not be getting in any helicopter.
Had many helicopter rides in the Angolan war in the seventies and eighties. When the danger is primarily being shot out of the sky you do not give a second thought about the dangers of the helicopter.
Agreed Ben. Took one sightseeing ride around St. Petersburg and Pinellas Beaches and it was cool.
Never again.
Too much can go wrong and the outcome is never good.
Saw a picture of them this afternoon. They are a beautiful family. So very sad.
@BZ you should change your handle to @BS
Attempting (and failing) to score political points off a dead family never ends well for lowlife political groupies like you. (1.) Get a life outside politics. (2.) Pray for the deceased family.
Living in Hawaii, I swear a helicopter goes down at least once usually twice a year. Agreed, I don't want to get in one. Look I know statistically flying in a helicopter is safer than driving. BUT, at the same time, any idiot can get a driver's license. A car crash, maybe you survive. Helicopter, probably not.
Michael Roth, US Congress is here to help you. they will help you through the Bankruptcy procedures.
They do. I've been on such helicopters on long distance over-the-water trips. I admit
was a bit nervous.
The floats won't help in an uncontrolled situation.
I forget the terminology, I think it's auto land, whereby the rotars can turn just by the downward motion... the downward motion keeps the rotars turning even with engine out...for a safe if likely hard landing (depends on variables), and as long if there's a place to land. I did it once in a real simulator...it was interesting.
It appears this helicopter had no rotars. They didn't have a chance.
The auto land you are referring to is called an autorotation. However, the rotors blades have to be attached to the helicopter in order for it to be effective. In this case there was a rotor head separation and no chance of recovery. BTW this is an extremely rare occurrence.
I’m a retired military helicopter pilot with over 30 years experience.
My condolences to the families of those lost in this tragic accident.