“Chilling Last Words: What a NYC Helicopter Pilot Said Moments Before the Fatal Crash Leaves the Internet Speculating”
Witnesses recalled seeing parts of the aircraft coming apart mid-air
Image credits: theaxalam / X
In the moments before the helicopter plunged into the river, witnesses saw parts of the aircraft coming apart mid-air.
“The helicopter was a little bit like nose down, slightly, and I saw the propeller separating from the helicopter,” witness Sarah Jane Raymond Ryer told CBS News.
“It kept spinning in the air alone,” she added. “Nothing was attached to it.”
“I saw the propeller separating from the helicopter,” one witness said
Image credits: vuralelibol / X
CBS News New York’s Dan Rice, who frequently flies the same helicopter model, said it appeared as though the aircraft experienced a “catastrophic failure.”
“There’s one video in particular where you see the main component of the helicopter, the fuselage, upside down. And what struck me, what scared me, is the main rotor system was gone,” he said.
🚨 | According to reports in the New York Post, the victims of the helicopter that plunged into the Hudson River were identified as Agustin Escobar, CEO of Siemens in Spain, along with his wife and three children https://t.co/8IMpYhwec2pic.twitter.com/yLFKYCeMwe
— VOZ (@Voz_US) April 11, 2025
“There’s no main rotor on the helicopter,” he continued. “And the tail boom was also gone, and it’s just a vessel at that point with no direction.”
Justin Green, an aviation lawyer who was a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps, also believes a “catastrophic mechanical failure” may have led to the accident, leaving the pilot helpless with no way of saving his passengers.
Image credits: ml_buckley / X
“There’s no indication they had any control over the craft. No pilot could have prevented that accident once they lost the lifts,” he told the Associated Press. “It’s like a rock falling to the ground. It’s heartbreaking.”
The victims “were d*ad as soon as whatever happened happened,” he added.
As numerous theories came about, former combat helicopter pilot Jesse Matchey “mast bumping seems plausible/likely.”
“In which case, the pilot error could be another potential contributing factor,” he added in a tweet.
Debris from this afternoon’s helicopter crash in the Hudson river floating in the water, including what looks to be sneaker. pic.twitter.com/fICu3oKC99
— Dean_Moses (@Dean_Moses) April 10, 2025
Mast bumping occurs in helicopters with teetering rotor systems, like the Bell 206, when excessive cyclic control movements lead to the rotor hub tilting too far. This can cause the rotor blades to strike the tail boom or even break the helicopter apart mid-air.
In cases of engine failure, helicopters are designed to perform a maneuver called autorotation, which allows pilots to control their descent and land safely.
Even if the engine is no longer supplying power to the main rotor, the rotor blades continue to spin due to the upward flow of air as the helicopter descends.
“Sad, at least they all went to heaven together,” one social media user said
- What happens when a helicopter runs out of fuel?
When a helicopter runs out of fuel, the engine stops supplying power, but the rotor blades can still spin freely due to autorotation. This allows the pilot to control the descent and make an emergency landing. However, if key parts of the helicopter, like the main rotor or tail boom, fail or suffer damage, autorotation may not be possible. This could lead to a catastrophic crash.
- How common are sightseeing helicopter crashes?
Sightseeing helicopter crashes are rare but not unheard of. Factors like mechanical failure, pilot error, and weather conditions can contribute to accidents. In major cities like New York, tour helicopters operate under strict regulations. However, as with any form of aviation, risks exit and accidents have occurred.
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