Job well done av Hudson River flygeren

NTSB, FAA Investigating Hudson River Helicopter Crash

 
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) - An investigation is under way to determine what caused a sightseeing charter helicopter carrying a family of four to plunge into the Hudson River after losing power on Sunday.

Deputy Fire Chief Thomas McKavanaugh said the helicopter had taken off from the Wall Street Heliport and lost power after 12 minutes in the air.

A mayday message was broadcast over air traffic control radio:

"Mayday! Mayday! New York 5 is going down. Boat basin. Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! New York 5 is going down."

Pilot Michael Campbell deployed the craft's pontoons, which it kept it upright and afloat, and landed the helicopter safely in the water.

The passengers were two adults and two children from Sweden, authorities said.

Jetskiers and boaters quickly rescued Campbell and four passengers. No one was injured, but the tourists were taken to the hospital for observation, authorities said.

"The pilot did a terrific job considering he'd lost his engine power," McKavanaugh said.

"This is a pilot that knew exactly what he was doing at the time he was doing it," said NYC Office of Emergency Management Deputy Commissioner Frank McCarton.

But Campbell said he was "just doing my job."

"That's all you can do at the end of the day," he said.