NTSB officials held a press briefing on Friday on the helicopter that crashed in the Hudson River.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Thank you for joining us. I'm Jennifer Homendy, and I'm chair of the National Transportation Safety Board.
00:07Our investigator in charge for this investigation, we call the investigator in charge the IIC, is Leah Reed.
00:15That's L-E-A-H, and then it's R-E-E-D.
00:20The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency that's charged by Congress
00:26with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States
00:31and significant events in all other modes of transportation.
00:36As you know, we're here to investigate yesterday's crash of a Bell 206 L4 helicopter
00:43into the Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey.
00:48The helicopter departed the downtown Manhattan Wall Street heliport in New York
00:54at about $14.50 for an AirTour flight.
00:59The helicopter is owned by Meridian Helicopters, LLC, which is based in Broussard, Louisiana,
01:07and operated by New York Helicopter Charter, Inc.
01:12Before I go on, I want to extend on behalf of the entire NTSB our deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones
01:25in this tragic event.
01:29I also want to start by thanking the first responders.
01:34This was a tremendous, tremendous effort.
01:39And I want to thank specifically, first and foremost, the mayor for allowing us to be here in City Hall
01:46and do this press conference and for all the support that you've given us and the team.
01:50I also want to thank the Jersey City Office of Emergency Management,
01:56the Jersey City Police Department, Jersey City Fire, Jersey City EMS,
02:04Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department,
02:08the New Jersey Park Police, the New Jersey Transit Police Department,
02:13Hudson County Office of Emergency Management,
02:18the NYPD Special Operations,
02:22FDNY Special Operations,
02:25New York City Office of Emergency Management,
02:28the United States Coast Guard,
02:31the Army Corps of Engineers,
02:34and so many others that we will continue to mention in our follow-up press briefings.
02:41Now, I want to set expectations for this press conference.
02:47This crash occurred yesterday at about 3.15 p.m.,
02:52so we're not even 24 hours later.
02:57Rightfully, the focus yesterday was on, first and foremost, victim recovery,
03:03and then wreckage recovery.
03:05Our investigators, the NTSB, we stay out of the way when victim recovery efforts are in process.
03:13That is, first and foremost, most important.
03:16Our investigation can always wait.
03:19Once that was done, we had Luke Sciotta,
03:22who is our chief of our eastern region,
03:26who lives right here in New York,
03:27on scene as part of the wreckage recovery operations,
03:31and those two were the focus for yesterday.
03:36The rest of the team began to arrive late last night, including me,
03:41and early this morning.
03:44So, that means this is the first full day of our investigation,
03:50and as you can see,
03:51our investigators are out doing some of the work that I'm about to talk about
03:56in just a second,
03:59but as far as information sharing today,
04:04I am not going to share a lot of investigative information.
04:09We have a lot of information,
04:11but we do not speculate.
04:13We need to confirm information.
04:15That is a process that takes time.
04:18So, I will say, you know,
04:22I understand that you have a lot of questions,
04:25and we will attempt to answer them over the coming days.
04:30A little bit about our team and our process.
04:34We have 17 people who are here on scene.
04:37That includes 10 investigators.
04:41They are supported by a minimum of 10 experts
04:45back in our headquarters in Washington, D.C.
04:49The on-scene specialists,
04:51they are experts,
04:53and they have the following specialties.
04:56Operations, they'll focus on the helicopter operator.
05:00They'll look at the owner of the helicopter itself,
05:05and they will look at pilot qualifications and other information.
05:11We have experts on helicopter airworthiness,
05:15on structures, and on systems.
05:19We also have our evidence management team here,
05:22as well as our transportation disaster assistance team,
05:27which is responsible for working with the family
05:31to get them the assistance they need
05:35throughout the course of the investigation,
05:37not just here on scene,
05:38but in the coming days, weeks, and months
05:41throughout the investigation
05:44to the issuance of our final report,
05:47and sometimes four months and years beyond.
05:51The wreckage exam began this morning.
05:56Our team, I was there,
05:58our team began pulling components
06:00in the engine off the wreckage
06:04and other components
06:05that they would like to more closely examine.
06:10Most of their focus was
06:12to turn it upright
06:15and move the helicopter or the wreckage
06:17inside
06:19so that they can begin to do
06:21a more comprehensive examination
06:23and get to the other side
06:25of the wreckage
06:27that was against the pavement.
06:29We also are aware
06:32that there are dive teams.
06:34The New York Police Department
06:36is still diving
06:37for components
06:40and pieces of the helicopter
06:42that we are still looking to recover.
06:45Those include the main rotor,
06:48the main transmission,
06:50the roof structure,
06:51and the tail structure,
06:53and we appreciate
06:55all of their hard work.
06:57And then we have a whole team
07:00that is collecting
07:01the standard information
07:02that we normally gather
07:04as part of any investigation,
07:06which includes pilot qualifications,
07:08log books,
07:09history of the helicopter,
07:11maintenance logs,
07:12and so forth.
07:13We do have the log books
07:15for the pilot.
07:17The pilot held
07:18a commercial pilot certificate
07:20with rotorcraft
07:22and instrument ratings.
07:24The pilot reported
07:27450 hours
07:28of total flight experience
07:30on his most recent medical,
07:33which was issued
07:33on September 20, 2024.
07:37As of March 29, 2025,
07:40the pilot accumulated
07:42about 788 hours
07:44of total flight time.
07:46We still need to calculate
07:48flight time
07:49in that Bell helicopter,
07:51and I'll have more information
07:53on that hopefully tomorrow
07:54because he previously
07:56was flying a Robinson 44.
07:59Now, what we are hoping
08:00is that we are able
08:04to get the public
08:05to send us any photos
08:07or video you may have,
08:10or if you want to contact us
08:13because you believe
08:15that you have information
08:16that could be pertinent
08:18to our investigation,
08:19please reach out to us,
08:23provide that information to us.
08:24We will get in contact
08:25with you
08:26at the following email address,
08:30witness at ntsb.gov.
08:33That's witness at ntsb.gov.
08:37Now, I will take some questions.
08:42Again, a reminder,
08:43I know there will be questions
08:45for very detailed
08:47investigative information.
08:49I am happy to talk
08:50about the team,
08:51their qualifications,
08:52the process.
08:53I am not going to speculate
08:55on investigative information.
08:59We are very factual,
09:00and we will provide that
09:01in due course.
09:02So I will call on you.
09:04Please state your name,
09:06your affiliation for me.
09:08Sorry, it's Matthew Chase
09:09from your state.
09:10To the extent you're able
09:11to share this,
09:12is there a preliminary cause?
09:13I realize you gave that
09:15early talk to him,
09:16but is there a cause
09:17preliminarily that you can share with us?
09:20The question is,
09:22is there a preliminary cause?
09:24We do not have a preliminary cause.
09:27That takes time.
09:28As I stated,
09:30our team focused on
09:32helicopter airworthiness
09:34and structures and systems
09:36is at the facility
09:38with the wreckage,
09:40doing the wreckage exam.
09:42That takes time.
09:43Of course,
09:44it takes time
09:44to also gather information,
09:46records that we need
09:47to come through.
09:48So we do not have that
09:50at this time.
09:51And just to mention,
09:52regarding cause,
09:55we will not speculate
09:56on cause ever,
09:59but we will not be determining
10:01any sort of preliminary
10:03or probable cause
10:04results at the scene
10:06of an accident.
10:07We don't do that.
10:08What we are doing here
10:10is gathering
10:11the perishable evidence,
10:14the evidence that we need
10:15to gather for our investigation.
10:18When it comes to maintenance,
10:19logbooks,
10:20and other materials,
10:21we can look at those materials
10:23later on.
10:24What we need to do
10:25is look at the wreckage now.
10:27We need to focus on finding
10:29some of the additional components
10:31and structures
10:32that we're looking for,
10:34conduct witness interviews,
10:35and gather the records
10:37that we need.
10:38We can review the records later.
10:39So that probable cause
10:41will not occur
10:42for quite some time.
10:44Yes, ma'am?
10:45And then we'll go here.
10:45Can you talk a little bit
10:49about the Indian Institute
10:50for people who were saying
10:51about what they need
10:51with the Indian Institute
10:52and what the disease
10:54would not be in?
10:55But what do you hope
10:57they believe
10:57promoting the Indian Institute?
10:59So the question was
11:01what we were doing
11:02with the engine.
11:03Nothing that we would
11:05not normally do
11:06as part of our standard investigation
11:08where we would have wreckage
11:09and we'd start separating
11:11some of the components
11:12that we always look at
11:13that's standard
11:14in our investigation.
11:15Of course,
11:16we'll have a team
11:16that always looks at
11:17engines or power plants
11:19to evaluate them
11:22as standard course
11:23of our investigation.
11:25So nothing in particular.
11:26What do you think
11:26is the part of the body?
11:28It was in the wreckage
11:33and so we separated it
11:35from the helicopter
11:36so we could take
11:37a closer look at it
11:39in a more upright position.
11:46Yes, sir.
11:47The question is
12:08what will
12:09us looking at
12:12as part of this investigation
12:13on scene
12:14tell us about cause
12:16and what
12:17what will we be looking at
12:19related to
12:21the safety history
12:23as part
12:24for this particular
12:25helicopter company?
12:27First of all,
12:27we always look at
12:28safety history.
12:30That's a standard part
12:31of all of our investigations
12:33so we'll collect that
12:34not just from
12:35the Federal Aviation Administration
12:37that is a party
12:38to every single
12:39one of our investigations
12:40but we'll also
12:42ask those questions
12:44in interviews
12:44and get other information
12:47that will help us
12:48get a very broad view
12:51and detailed information
12:53about the safety history
12:54of this particular operator
12:56and also the owner
12:56of the helicopter itself.
12:58with respect to
12:59what will it tell us
13:01on scene
13:03about our investigation
13:05the evidence
13:06right now
13:06everything is on the table.
13:08We don't rule anything out.
13:10We take a very detailed
13:12and comprehensive view
13:13and it's way too early
13:15in the investigation.
13:16It will be too early on scene.
13:18That's much later
13:19in the investigation.
13:20Yes, ma'am.
13:21The question is
13:34what have we been able
13:36to glean from the videos
13:38that are already circulating
13:40on social media?
13:42Those are very helpful
13:43for our investigators
13:44certainly
13:46but
13:47a lot of those videos
13:50are from a very far distance
13:52and so we'll have to
13:54look at those
13:56a little bit further
13:57back at headquarters
13:58but we're hoping
13:59to get some additional videos
14:01that provide us
14:03information.
14:05We don't know
14:05what people have recorded
14:07or taken pictures of
14:08that could be helpful
14:09in an investigation.
14:11We have found
14:12in past investigations
14:13and I'm just thinking
14:14of one
14:14that I went to
14:16in Ketchikan, Alaska
14:17mid-air collision
14:18where photos
14:19from
14:20somebody
14:24who was on board
14:25one of the airplanes
14:27helped us significantly
14:28in our investigation
14:29so it can be
14:31very key parts
14:32of our investigation
14:32so for anyone
14:34who didn't hear
14:35my previous request
14:37please send us
14:38any sort of videos
14:39or photos
14:39or information
14:40you'd like to share
14:41with us
14:41at witness
14:42at ntsb.gov.
14:44Yes, ma'am.
14:44I know when you do
14:46these investigations
14:47you also come out
14:48with recommendations
14:49knowing the history
14:51of these practices
14:52so far
14:53are there any flaws
14:55that you have
14:56in terms of regulating
14:57this industry
14:58even before
14:59looking at this
15:00particular practice
15:01based on
15:02the amount of practices
15:03that are taking place
15:04in these sites
15:05so the question is
15:12do we have
15:13any sort of
15:14concerns
15:14or have we issued
15:16any sort of
15:17safety recommendations
15:18in the past
15:19about these type of
15:20air tour operations
15:21we have
15:23actually we did
15:24so this particular
15:25operator
15:26was governed
15:27under part 135
15:29of the
15:32federal aviation
15:33regulations
15:34but this particular
15:36operation
15:36was under
15:37part 91
15:38all air tours
15:39are
15:39we have issued
15:41an entire report
15:42on part 91
15:44operations
15:45with respect
15:46to revenue
15:47passengers
15:48we believe
15:49in one level
15:50of safety
15:51strongly
15:51and that may not
15:53look like
15:54regulation
15:55for a
15:56major commercial
15:57airline
15:58but we do believe
15:59that they should
16:00be regulated
16:01we have issued
16:02recommendations
16:03in the past
16:04on recorders
16:05crash resistant
16:07recorders
16:07we've issued
16:08numerous
16:09recommendations
16:10on safety
16:11management systems
16:12on particular
16:14regulations
16:15for part 91
16:16it's too early
16:17to say
16:18what we would
16:19recommend
16:20as part of
16:21this investigation
16:23however
16:23this is a concern
16:25that we've raised
16:27for a number
16:28of years
16:28certainly we raised
16:30this after the
16:31fly nion
16:32crash
16:33and in a
16:35specific report
16:36that we have
16:38online at
16:38ntsb.gov
16:40focused on
16:41part 91
16:42revenue
16:43passenger operations
16:45and so I would
16:45direct you actually
16:46to that report
16:47it was very
16:48comprehensive
16:48about our
16:50recommendations
16:50specifically about
16:52air tour operators
16:53and if you can't
16:54find that
16:54our media relations
16:55team can help
16:56provide that
16:57information
16:57because we did
16:58issue a set
16:59of recommendations
17:00to improve
17:02safety in this area
17:03that is that
17:08will be part of
17:09the question
17:10is was this
17:10operator
17:11complying
17:13with those
17:13recommendations
17:14those are
17:15recommendations
17:16not regulations
17:17but we
17:19would have to
17:19look at that
17:20and that
17:21will be
17:21standard
17:21in this
17:22investigation
17:23so thank
17:24you very much
17:24sir
17:25and then I'm
17:25going to go
17:25over here
17:26have we
17:28recovered
17:29the rotor
17:31we are looking
17:31for the
17:32main rotor
17:33and the
17:34tail rotor
17:35right now
17:35the people
17:37of town
17:38in Jersey City
17:39have been
17:39complaining
17:40and myself
17:41about the
17:42helicopters
17:42flying low
17:43between these
17:44buildings
17:44and these
17:4560-70
17:46story buildings
17:47and we've
17:48asked
17:48the FAA
17:49up in
17:50Connecticut
17:50to get them
17:52the heck
17:52out of here
17:52and let them
17:53fly down
17:53the Hudson River
17:54I'm telling
17:55you right
17:55now
17:56if something
17:57isn't done
17:57there's going
17:58to be a
17:58disaster
17:59where they're
17:59going to
17:59crash into
18:00one of these
18:00buildings
18:00or crash
18:01into the
18:02neighborhoods
18:02out there
18:03they are
18:03annoying
18:04and they're
18:04bothering
18:05people have
18:05been asking
18:06and asking
18:06and asking
18:07and nothing
18:08has been
18:08done
18:08thank you
18:09there was a
18:10comment about
18:11thank you sir
18:13there was a
18:13comment about
18:14the concern
18:14about these
18:15helicopter
18:16operations
18:16and thank
18:17you very
18:17much for
18:18sharing that
18:18appreciate it
18:19yes
18:21the question
18:47is what
18:48would
18:49result
18:50how did
18:51this tragedy
18:52essentially
18:52how did
18:53this tragedy
18:53happen
18:54where a
18:54helicopter
18:55would break
18:55apart
18:56in the air
18:57I understand
18:59that is a
19:00significant
19:01concern
19:01and a
19:02question on
19:03everyone's
19:03mind
19:04it is going
19:04to take
19:05time
19:05we need
19:07to do
19:07a very
19:08thorough
19:08examination
19:09of the
19:10wreckage
19:10to determine
19:11what occurred
19:12first
19:12and how
19:13that occurred
19:14once we
19:15have that
19:16we'll be
19:16able to
19:17release that
19:17to the
19:18public
19:18yes
19:19sure
19:44great
19:57question
19:57because I
19:58think
19:58sometimes
19:59people are
19:59reluctant
20:00to reach
20:00out to us
20:02because they
20:02may not
20:03think
20:03something
20:03is relevant
20:04to our
20:04investigation
20:05so the
20:05question
20:05was on
20:06reports
20:07of a
20:07large
20:08flock
20:08of birds
20:09in the
20:09area
20:10shortly
20:12before the
20:13crash
20:13we are
20:13aware of
20:14those
20:14reports
20:15we
20:15discussed
20:15it
20:16this
20:16morning
20:16it's
20:16something
20:16we
20:17will
20:17be
20:17looking
20:17into
20:18what I
20:18will
20:19say
20:19to
20:19the
20:19public
20:20if
20:20something
20:20struck
20:21you
20:22as
20:22different
20:22or
20:23maybe
20:24you
20:24paused
20:25or
20:26it
20:27you know
20:28it
20:28crossed
20:29your
20:29mind
20:29that
20:29maybe
20:30it's
20:31something
20:31you would
20:32like to
20:32share
20:32with
20:33our
20:33investigators
20:34there's
20:35no
20:35downside
20:37please
20:38in
20:38sharing
20:39that
20:39information
20:40with
20:40us
20:41you can
20:42be
20:42very
20:42helpful
20:43in
20:43providing
20:44that
20:44investigative
20:45information
20:46to the
20:47NTSB
20:47so again
20:48witness
20:48at
20:49ntsb.gov
20:50even if
20:51you think
20:51it's
20:53irrelevant
20:53please send
20:54it in
20:55yes sir
20:56you said
21:00there are
21:0017 people
21:01on site
21:01here
21:02working on
21:02the
21:03investigation
21:03in
21:03dc
21:04that
21:05how many
21:05people
21:06you would
21:06typically
21:06have
21:07for a
21:07helicopter
21:07crash
21:08investigation
21:08is that
21:09the same
21:09number
21:09for example
21:10during the
21:11fly non
21:12helicopter
21:13crash
21:13or have
21:14cuts
21:14the federal
21:14government
21:15reduced your
21:16number of
21:17investigators
21:17so the
21:19question is
21:20the 17
21:21investigators
21:21here and
21:2210 who
21:22are supporting
21:23back home
21:23but the
21:2417
21:24I'm sorry
21:25the 17
21:25personnel
21:26here 10
21:26of which
21:27are
21:27investigators
21:27is that
21:29typical
21:30for an
21:30investigation
21:31like this
21:32how would
21:33it compare
21:33to fly
21:34nigh on
21:34and
21:35would it
21:37be
21:37less
21:39as a
21:40result of
21:40any sort
21:41of cuts
21:42to the
21:42agency
21:42first of all
21:43let me
21:44address
21:44the
21:44agency
21:45we
21:46have
21:46not
21:46experienced
21:47any
21:48personnel
21:49losses
21:49other than
21:50typical
21:51retirements
21:52in our
21:53agency
21:53our agency
21:55has been
21:56provided
21:56with
21:57by the
21:58administration
21:58thank you
21:59a
22:01an
22:01exemption
22:02from the
22:02deferred
22:03resignation
22:04program
22:04we got
22:05a hiring
22:06exemption
22:06for
22:07several
22:07investigative
22:09positions
22:10within
22:11each
22:11of our
22:12transportation
22:13modes
22:13so we
22:14can bring
22:14our
22:16numbers
22:16up
22:16to help
22:17us in
22:17our
22:18investigation
22:18and that
22:19is critical
22:19so we
22:20have not
22:20suffered
22:21in any
22:22way
22:22with respect
22:23to comparison
22:23on fly
22:24nigh on
22:24I don't
22:25know how
22:25many
22:25investigators
22:26were here
22:27on fly
22:27nigh on
22:27certainly
22:28our media
22:28team can
22:29provide that
22:30to you
22:30it really
22:31isn't
22:32what I
22:33what I
22:34will say
22:34for investigations
22:35is
22:35when an
22:37accident
22:37occurs
22:37we look
22:38at what
22:39might be
22:39areas we
22:40want to
22:41look into
22:41how many
22:42people
22:43can we
22:44send
22:44based on
22:45the rest
22:46of our
22:46workload
22:47because we
22:48have a pretty
22:48heavy workload
22:49right now
22:50and that
22:52is the
22:52decision making
22:53that goes
22:54into what
22:54expertise
22:55do we need
22:56and who
22:57do we want
22:57to send
22:58that is what
22:59feeds into
23:00that so it
23:00might vary
23:01depending on
23:02the investigation
23:02okay that
23:04is the end
23:05of questions
23:06today what
23:06I will ask
23:07is that you
23:08monitor
23:08x which
23:10is ntsb
23:11underscore
23:12newsroom
23:13and also
23:14ntsb
23:15dot gov
23:16which is our
23:18website which
23:18will have
23:19updates on
23:20future press
23:21conferences
23:21thank you so
23:22much for
23:23your time
23:23okay if
23:37there's any
23:38questions to
23:39our emergency
23:39management or
23:40director of the
23:40police we can
23:41answer those as
23:42well if not
23:43we'll close it
23:43out and say
23:44thank you for
23:44coming
23:44speak that
23:49great
23:49black box
23:51question at
23:52this point we
23:53have been
23:53advised that
23:54it was
23:54recovered from
23:55that's part of
23:56the dive
23:56operations that's
23:57currently on
23:58the way
23:58they are
23:59I don't know
24:01but if there
24:02is that's part
24:02of the dive
24:03operations that's
24:04currently on
24:04the way
24:05the NYPD
24:07scuba
24:07yeah the
24:10NYPD scuba
24:11team as
24:12indicated by
24:13the chair
24:13has been
24:14assisting us
24:15since the
24:15last evening
24:16they're doing
24:17a comprehensive
24:18search of the
24:19crash area
24:19if in fact
24:21that item is
24:22recovered that
24:22will be turned
24:23over as part
24:23of the
24:24evidentiary
24:24I don't know
24:26if this
24:27right
24:27I have no
24:30idea that
24:31would have to
24:31be directed
24:32to yes
24:33Pat
24:33the area in
24:44question is
24:44it's about
24:45five feet
24:46deep where
24:46the chopper
24:47went down
24:47it's a very
24:49rocky
24:49substance on
24:51the bottom
24:51there so
24:52there was
24:52challenges for
24:53the scuba
24:55people to get
24:55in there
24:56even to this
24:57day we were
24:58doing recovery
24:58on the
24:59pier line
25:00and the
25:01shore line
25:01where getting
25:02a boat in
25:03that close
25:03was tough
25:04so a lot
25:04of the stuff
25:04are emergency
25:05service people
25:06people from my
25:07office who are
25:08out there
25:08physically walking
25:09the shore line
25:10recovering items
25:11five feet
25:13deep roughly
25:15yes
25:16I believe they
25:26said it was an
25:26hour and a half
25:27from now until
25:28he arrives
25:28is that what
25:28they said
25:29he was flying
25:31in this morning
25:32and then they
25:33said an hour
25:33and a half
25:34yeah in about
25:36an hour from
25:36now he'll be
25:37arriving
25:37well that's the
25:59discretion of
26:00the coast
26:00guard
26:00obviously
26:01they've been
26:01establishing
26:02where the
26:03dives are
26:03currently
26:05operating
26:05the one
26:07location that
26:08they're looking
26:08at they've
26:09discovered some
26:10information based
26:12on sonar and
26:13things like that
26:14it's approximately
26:1475 feet deep
26:16so it's a pretty
26:17wide area
26:18right now
26:19primarily
26:20we're in the
26:21area of the
26:21crash site
26:22and then working
26:23outward
26:23but as the
26:24dive teams
26:25discover items
26:26that doesn't
26:27appear normal
26:28they're marking
26:29them and then
26:30based on the
26:31currents and
26:31things like that
26:32they'll be back
26:32to continue
26:33their dives
26:34in that area
26:35approximately
26:47five feet deep
26:48some items
26:57on the floor
26:58based on sonar
26:59and things like
27:00that that are
27:00not normal
27:01appearances
27:01and that's why
27:02they're continuing
27:03to mark that
27:04Hudson River
27:05is a very
27:06very tough
27:07place to
27:07dive
27:07so we're
27:09dealing with
27:09the expertise
27:10of the
27:10NYPD
27:10and you know
27:11they're going
27:12to make sure
27:12it's done
27:13safely
27:13and we're
27:15going to
27:15recover
27:15what's down
27:16there
27:16you know
27:16may take
27:16some time
27:17but they're
27:17going to
27:17stay there
27:18until they
27:18have to
27:18get
27:18what they
27:19have to
27:19get
27:19they're
27:22very murky
27:26I mean
27:26I was
27:27there last
27:27night
27:28when they
27:28were
27:28physically
27:29removing
27:30the victims
27:30you literally
27:31can't see
27:32a hand
27:32in front
27:33of you
27:33but
27:33they did
27:34a phenomenal
27:34job
27:35from the
27:43shoreline
27:43Greg
27:47Kearse
27:47Greg
27:49Kearse
27:49K-I-E-R-C-E
27:51that's not
27:51a radius
27:52that's
27:52straight out
27:53yeah
27:54anything else
27:59yeah
28:03whatever
28:07location
28:09on the
28:10Jersey
28:10city
28:10died
28:11the
28:11crash
28:11occurred
28:12close to
28:13Greg
28:14as well
28:15you must
28:15stay with
28:15that
28:15as well
28:16if you're
28:18familiar with
28:18the port
28:19authority
28:19vents
28:20down
28:20at
28:21the
28:21foot
28:22of
28:236th
28:25street
28:25roughly
28:25it's
28:26adjacent
28:27right
28:27to the
28:27port
28:28authority
28:28vent
28:28it's
28:29adjacent
28:29right
28:30to the
28:30port
28:30authority
28:31pier
28:31with
28:31houses
28:32the
28:32vents
28:32for
28:33the
28:33tunnel
28:33yes
28:37I'm
28:43sorry
28:43they told
28:47us
28:47I touched
28:48on the
28:48fact
28:49that they
28:49were here
28:49for a
28:50birthday
28:50trip
28:50for
28:51the
28:51mom
28:51her
28:51birthday
28:52is
28:52actually
28:52in
28:52June
28:53but it
28:53was a
28:54trip
28:54that they
28:54were doing
28:54now
28:55it was one
28:55of the
28:55child's
28:56birthdays
28:56today
28:57and
28:59he was
29:01here for
29:01a business
29:02trip
29:02arriving
29:03on Sunday
29:03touring
29:05some
29:06Siemens
29:06entities
29:06in
29:07Pittsburgh
29:07is what
29:08they told
29:08us
29:08and then
29:09they extended
29:09the trip
29:10with the
29:10family
29:11arriving
29:12a couple
29:13days ago
29:13for the
29:14birthday
29:14portion
29:15of the
29:15trip
29:15they said
29:17his
29:18birthday
29:18or
29:18the
29:19child's
29:19birthday
29:19was
29:19today
29:20is what
29:20they said
29:20excuse me
29:24I don't
29:25know
29:26yeah
29:27just a quick
29:28question
29:29about
29:29birds
29:30forgive me
29:30I'm not
29:31familiar
29:31with the
29:32birds
29:32in this
29:32area
29:33is it
29:34a typical
29:34problem
29:35that there
29:35are birds
29:36that could
29:37possibly
29:38interact
29:39answer
29:39that
29:40there
29:41were
29:43three
29:44working
29:44theories
29:45there
29:46was
29:46the
29:47birds
29:47discussion
29:48there
29:49was
29:49drone
29:49discussion
29:50and
29:50mechanical
29:50failure
29:51discussion
29:51and
29:52we'll
29:53see
29:53where
29:53it
29:53goes
29:53and
29:55again
29:55I
29:55don't
29:55want
29:56to
29:56hypothesize
29:56but
29:57I
29:58think
29:58as
29:58time
29:59goes
29:59on
29:59we'll
29:59leave
30:00it
30:00at
30:01that
30:01I
30:03think
30:04that
30:04you
30:04need
30:04more
30:04regulation
30:05there
30:05and
30:05we
30:05need
30:05the
30:05FAA
30:06to
30:06restrict
30:06the
30:07tourism
30:08on
30:09the
30:09helicopters
30:09very
30:09crowded
30:10space
30:10and
30:10those
30:10of
30:10you
30:11that
30:11aren't
30:11familiar
30:11with
30:11it
30:12you
30:12only
30:12could
30:13go
30:13so
30:13high
30:14because
30:14you
30:14can't
30:15interfere
30:15with
30:15Newark
30:16LaGuardia
30:16and JFK
30:17on the
30:18commercial
30:18airlines
30:19so you
30:19have
30:19all of
30:20the
30:20news
30:20outlets
30:21you
30:21have
30:22the
30:22transportation
30:22you
30:23have
30:23the
30:23tourism
30:24all
30:24in a
30:25very
30:25tight
30:25space
30:26that
30:27can't
30:27go
30:27above
30:28a
30:28certain
30:28elevation
30:28so
30:29it
30:29is
30:29very
30:29congested
30:30and
30:30it's
30:30a
30:30very
30:30congested
30:32space
30:32on
30:32the
30:32ground
30:33so
30:33it's
30:33dangerous
30:33and
30:34as
30:34he
30:34said
30:34you
30:35know
30:35had
30:35it
30:35been
30:3550
30:36feet
30:36more
30:37towards
30:37the
30:38shoreline
30:38it
30:38would
30:38have
30:38landed
30:39on
30:39a
30:40walkway
30:41that
30:41is
30:41highly
30:42trafficked
30:42and
30:42not
30:43far
30:43from
30:43playground
30:44over
30:44there
30:44close
30:44to
30:44Newport
30:45and
30:45it's
30:45another
30:46100
30:46feet
30:46it
30:46could
30:46have
30:46been
30:47in
30:47the
30:47middle
30:47of
30:47Newport
30:47Parkway
30:48so
30:48it's
30:49a
30:49very
30:49dangerous
30:50situation
30:50yeah
30:52I
30:52think
30:53that
30:53you
30:54need
30:54to
30:54be
30:54practical
30:54about
30:55it
30:55post
30:559-11
30:56there
30:56was
30:56restrictions
30:57and
30:57it
30:57seemed
30:57like
30:58it
30:58worked
30:58okay
30:58and
30:58then
30:58over
30:59time
30:59we've
31:00brought
31:00back
31:00those
31:01restrictions
31:01and
31:01more
31:02and
31:02more
31:02traffic
31:02that
31:04helicopter
31:04did
31:05multiple
31:06tours
31:06that
31:06day
31:07already
31:07they
31:07are
31:07very
31:08busy
31:08operators
31:09and
31:10that
31:10probably
31:11is
31:11going
31:11to
31:11questions
31:12around
31:12maintenance
31:13and
31:13all
31:13of
31:13those
31:13sort
31:14of
31:14things
31:14and
31:15by
31:16the
31:16time
31:16it's
31:16resolved
31:16the
31:17world
31:17will
31:17stop
31:18watching
31:18this
31:18unfortunately
31:19because
31:19it
31:19takes
31:19the
31:19NTSB
31:20a lot
31:21of
31:21time
31:21to
31:21get
31:21to
31:21a
31:21resolution
31:22but
31:22there's
31:22going
31:23to be
31:23a lot
31:23of
31:23questions
31:23on
31:23how
31:24those
31:24tourist
31:24operators
31:25work
31:25and
31:26I
31:26think
31:26there's
31:26reason
31:26to be
31:27concerned
31:27over
31:27it
31:28they
31:38told
31:39us
31:39he's
31:42been
31:42in
31:42contact
31:43the
31:43mother
31:43is
31:43in
31:43Utah
31:44and
31:45yeah
31:45he's
31:46a
31:46veteran
31:46and
31:47African
31:48American
31:48male
31:4836
31:49years
31:49old
31:5036
31:51years
31:51old
31:51yeah
31:53do
32:02you
32:02have
32:02the
32:02exact
32:02ages
32:03Kim
32:04when
32:04we're
32:04done
32:04Kim
32:05will
32:05give
32:05you
32:05the
32:05exact
32:05ages
32:06Kim
32:06will
32:06come
32:06up
32:06at
32:07the
32:07end
32:07give
32:07you
32:07the
32:07exact
32:07ages
32:07she'll
32:11give
32:11you
32:11that
32:11information
32:12she'll
32:12give
32:12you
32:12anything
32:13else
32:13before
32:13we
32:13wrap
32:13it
32:13up
32:14yes
32:14I
32:19mean
32:19look
32:19you
32:20have
32:21these
32:21operators
32:21saying
32:21a lot
32:22of
32:22different
32:22things
32:22I
32:23think
32:23a
32:23reasonable
32:23person
32:24would
32:24come
32:24to
32:24the
32:25conclusion
32:25that
32:25if
32:25you're
32:26a
32:26pilot
32:26and
32:27you're
32:27going
32:27on
32:27a
32:27trip
32:28you
32:28would
32:28recognize
32:29whether
32:29you have
32:29fuel
32:30or you
32:30don't
32:30have
32:30fuel
32:30in
32:31that
32:31that
32:31helicopter
32:32was
32:32used
32:33on
32:33multiple
32:34trips
32:34earlier
32:35in
32:35that
32:35day
32:36so
32:36I
32:38would
32:38likely
32:39rule
32:39that
32:40out
32:40you
32:40know
32:40I'm
32:41going
32:41to
32:41go
32:41with
32:41the
32:41hypothesis
32:42that
32:42that's
32:42probably
32:42not
32:43going
32:43to
32:43end
32:43up
32:43being
32:43the
32:44outcome
32:44on
32:44this
32:45spoke
32:50we spoke
32:51today
32:51to the
32:52executives
32:52I did
32:53to the
32:53executives
32:54at
32:54Siemens
32:54and
32:55they
32:55flew
32:56out
32:56last
32:56night
32:56and
32:57the
32:58one
32:58that
32:58flew
32:59out
32:59actually
33:00has
33:00a
33:00close
33:00family
33:01relationship
33:02with
33:02the
33:02deceased
33:03they
33:04would
33:04vacation
33:04together
33:05so
33:05there's
33:06familiarity
33:06there
33:07he
33:07was
33:07facilitating
33:08conversations
33:09with
33:10the
33:10consulate
33:12in order
33:13to
33:13facilitate
33:13the
33:14release
33:14of
33:14the
33:14bodies
33:14to
33:15bring
33:15them
33:15back
33:15to
33:16Spain
33:16and
33:16then
33:17as
33:17we
33:17said
33:17earlier
33:17family
33:18members
33:18should
33:18be
33:18arriving
33:19in an
33:19hour
33:19or so
33:20Kim
33:24will
33:24give you
33:25the
33:25pilot's
33:26name
33:26and
33:26the
33:26ages
33:27yeah
33:28I
33:28believe
33:29it
33:29was
33:29the
33:29wife's
33:29brother
33:30yeah
33:30Greg
33:33whatever
33:40items
33:40as I
33:40say
33:41I'm
33:41not
33:41familiar
33:41with
33:42whether
33:42there's
33:42a
33:42black
33:43box
33:43or not
33:43on
33:43that
33:44type
33:44of
33:44an
33:44aircraft
33:44as I
33:46what
33:46they
33:46are
33:46looking
33:47for
33:47now
33:47in
33:47particular
33:48was
33:48the
33:48transmission
33:49the
33:50rotors
33:50and
33:51other
33:51associated
33:53items
33:53associated
33:54with
33:54the
33:54actual
33:55engine
33:55and
33:55things
33:56like
33:56that
33:56there
33:58when
33:58the
33:58cut
33:59chopper
33:59was
33:59taken
33:59up
34:00it
34:00was
34:00very
34:00very
34:01seriously
34:01damaged
34:02so as
34:02the
34:03NTSB
34:04chair
34:04had
34:04said
34:05it
34:06was
34:06delivered
34:06to
34:07the
34:07Army
34:07Corps
34:08of
34:08Engineers
34:08via
34:09boat
34:09and
34:10this
34:10morning
34:10they
34:10were
34:10over
34:11there
34:11first
34:11thing
34:11doing
34:12their
34:12first
34:13portion
34:13of
34:13the
34:13investigation
34:14but
34:15as I
34:16mentioned
34:16there
34:16were
34:16some
34:17items
34:17that
34:17were
34:17found
34:18on
34:18the
34:18sonar
34:19that
34:19is
34:19a
34:20matter
34:20of
34:20interest
34:21so
34:21they
34:21are
34:21continuing
34:22to
34:22do
34:23their
34:23dives
34:23weather
34:24permitting
34:25of course
34:25it's
34:26a tough
34:26very
34:26choppy
34:27out there
34:27today
34:27but
34:32thank
34:34you