Divers Search Hudson River for Final Pieces of Deadly Helicopter Crash Wreckage

Ongoing Recovery Efforts

• 🚁 Divers returned to the Hudson River to recover the final pieces of wreckage from a deadly helicopter crash.
• 🔍 Efforts are focused on finding critical components like the main rotor, main transmission, roof structure, and tail structure.
• ⚠️ The NTSB chair stated the investigation will take time, and the main body landed in shallow water, but some parts may be in depths of 75 ft with low visibility.

Potential Causes Under Investigation

• 💡 Experts believe finding the rotor head could be key, as it can reveal if bolts sheared before impact.
• 🐦 Three working theories are being considered: birds, drones, and mechanical failure.
• 📉 Preliminary investigations suggest a rotor may have broken off, causing the helicopter to shake uncontrollably before crashing.

Victims and Pilot Information

• 🇪🇸 A family of five from Barcelona, Spain, including three young children, was killed in the crash.
• 👨‍✈️ The pilot, 36-year-old Shawn Johnson, was a veteran of the US Navy with commercial pilot and instrument ratings.
• 💔 Relatives have expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support while preparing to return their loved ones to Spain.

Regulatory Oversight Concerns

• 🚨 The FAA is urged to provide additional oversight for these types of helicopters.
• ⚖️ A report indicated that these specific helicopters may have a regulatory loophole, not requiring the same regulations as other revenue-generating aircraft.