Bell 206L-4 crash near Jersey City, NJ, United States

A Bell 206L-4 sightseeing helicopter operated by New York Helicopter Charter crashed into the Hudson River approximately 17 minutes into a tourist flight from lower Manhattan. All six people on board were killed: the pilot and a family of five from Spain including a Siemens executive, his wife, and their three children. NTSB investigation released in July 2026 found remains of Canada geese and Brant geese on the main rotor blades and left horizontal stabilizer. Witnesses reported seeing a large flock of geese take flight shortly before the helicopter broke apart mid-air, separating into three sections. A toggle switch for the bird deterrent light system was found missing from the cockpit. The final NTSB report and formal probable cause determination are pending.