Pilot Reported Fuel Stop Minutes Before Deadly Hudson River Helicopter Crash
Just moments before a helicopter tragically crashed into the Hudson River, killing all six people aboard, the pilot had radioed in to report he was making a fuel stop.
“He [the pilot] called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive,” said Michael Roth, 71, owner of New York Helicopter, according to The Telegraph.
Roth expressed the deep grief felt throughout the company. “We’re all devastated. Every employee in our company is devastated. My wife has not stopped crying,” he said.
After getting an alarming call from a manager at the downtown heliport, Roth's phone began “blowing up” with reports about the crash. Another pilot later confirmed the worst fears after spotting the wreckage upside down in the Hudson.
Among the victims were Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife, and their three children, according to reports.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Roth said, “The death of the child of any human being is a monumental disaster.”
As the National Transportation Safety Board launches its investigation, The New York Post highlighted that multiple potential causes will be considered. While initial findings suggest a drone strike is unlikely, investigators will still explore whether the helicopter might have collided with a drone or bird.
“If it was struck by something — either a drone or something else like a bird — did over-correction exacerbate what could have been a manageable thing into a tragedy?” a source told The Post.
Another line of inquiry involves the possibility of mechanical failure, especially since the helicopter appeared to "break apart in midair." A key focus will be the main hardware connecting the rotors to the fuselage. As of now, the helicopter's rotors have not been recovered, officials said.
Justin Green, an aviation attorney and former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, believes a “catastrophic mechanical failure” is the likely cause.
“It is possible the helicopter’s main rotors struck the tail boom — breaking it apart and causing the cabin to free-fall and plunge into the frigid waters,” Green explained.
“They were dead as soon as whatever happened happened,” Green said. “There’s no indication they had any control over the craft. No pilot could have prevented that accident once they lost the lifts. It’s like a rock falling to the ground. It’s heartbreaking.”
The pilot was identified as Sean Johnson, 36, a Navy veteran who had recently relocated from Chicago to New York City, according to the Gothamist.
“ I’m just at loss for words. I don’t even know what happened,” said Johnson’s estranged wife, Kathryn.
She shared that Johnson had held various jobs after his military service, but flying had always been his dream: he “always wanted to fly.”