NTSB points to bird strike in Hudson River helicopter crash that killed six

A bird strike was the likely trigger for the Hudson River helicopter crash that killed six people near New York City in April 2025, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report released Thursday.

The aircraft was a Bell 206L-4 helicopter, the NTSB said. Investigators reported finding bird remains in the wreckage and in the area around the crash site.

The crash killed a family of five from Spain, including three children, along with the pilot, according to the report.

What the NTSB said

The NTSB’s Thursday report identified a bird strike as the most likely cause of the deadly crash. The agency based that finding on evidence recovered from the helicopter wreckage and the surrounding area.

The report did not identify any other cause in the details released Thursday. The agency’s finding centers on the presence of bird remains connected to the wreckage and crash scene.

The crash drew renewed attention to helicopter safety around New York City, where aircraft operate over and near crowded waterways. CBS News also described the crash as renewing safety concerns about air tourism.

Who was on board

All six people aboard died in the April 2025 crash, according to the NTSB report. The victims were the pilot and five members of a Spanish family.

The family included three children, the report said. No additional identifying details were included in the information released Thursday.

The NTSB report marks a key development in the investigation, tying the crash to an apparent collision with a bird. The agency said the evidence included remains recovered both from the helicopter and from the nearby crash area.

Further updates from investigators may add more detail about the sequence of events, but Thursday’s report points to the bird strike as the likely cause of the fatal plunge into the Hudson River.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS News.