Airports and State Advocacy
AOPA offers condolences after midair collision
Statue of Liberty in the NYC Hudson River Exclusion
In the wake of the fatal midair collision involving a general aviation airplane and a sightseeing helicopter over the Hudson River this weekend, AOPA offered condolences to the families of those who died in the crash.
A Piper PA-32 and a Eurocopter AS350 collided and crashed into the Hudson River at about noon Aug. 8, according to the NTSB. Authorities believe there were no survivors among the nine people on board both aircraft.
“Saturday’s collision between a general aviation aircraft taking off out of Teterboro, New Jersey, and a sightseeing helicopter from Manhattan’s West Side is a tremendous tragedy, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association wishes to extend its condolences to the families of victims,” said AOPA President Craig Fuller. “All of us in general aviation work hard to reduce the risk of flying. [This] accident reminds us that even with safety regulations and advanced technology, accidents can still occur.”
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the airplane was carrying a pilot and two passengers, including a teenager. The helicopter carried a pilot and five Italian tourists, he said.
“Saturday’s accident is a tragedy for all involved, and we offer our condolences to the families,” said Bruce Landsberg, president of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. “It is important to remember, as Mayor Michael Bloomberg pointed out, that it is likely to take the National Transportation Safety Board months to determine what happened, and we should avoid speculating about who did what or who is at fault until the investigation has run its course. It is also important for the traveling public to understand that accidents like this are extremely rare.”
August 10, 2009
