by beaky » Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:41 pm
Coupla things not mentioned in Fly2's very detailed post:
The pilot, an Israeli AF vet, did a superb job of ditching the chopper, inflating the floats quickly, getting his pax out and on top of the wreck, then diving in after the lady who was hung up and in danger of drowning. An NYPD harbor boat happened to be nearby on a training mission, and its crew were able to help further. Lucky thing they were nearby- and the pilot kept his cool and did what was needed.
I haven't heard anything conclusive about the cause of the accident, but a passenger told the press he heard a loud noise just before all hell broke loose...
Under more controlled conditions, the floats would help keep the bird upright, but at least they kept it afloat long enough to save the woman (aside from being stunned and underwater, she apparently swallowed quite a bit of East River water mixed with fuel... nasty!) and provide a safe perch for the rest of the occupants until help arrived.
Very scary for all concerned, but at least they're all right (the hospitalized woman is expected to recover). Between the sightseeing flights and the VIP shuttles from that Wall Street heliport, there are a lot of chopper flights daily in that area, but these accidents are rare indeed.
Last edited by
beaky on Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
