Investigators are considering a bird strike as a possible cause of a helicopter crash that killed six people last year in the Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released documents on Thursday indicating that bird remains were found on parts of the Bell 206L-4 helicopter wreckage.

The helicopter broke apart on April 10, 2025, during a sightseeing tour operated by New York Helicopter. The victims included a Spanish family consisting of a couple and their three children, along with the pilot.

According to the investigation records, fragments of foam from the main rotor blade and a severed bird wing were discovered approximately 2,000 feet northwest of the crash site. Additional bird remains were located on other rotor blade samples recovered from the scene.

Witness accounts also support the bird strike theory: one bystander reported seeing a flock of geese take flight shortly before the crash occurred. The NTSB has been examining these findings as part of its ongoing probe to determine the sequence of events leading to the helicopter’s structural failure.

No definitive conclusion has yet been announced, but the presence of bird remains on the rotor blades adds weight to the hypothesis that a bird strike contributed to the accident. The investigation continues as authorities work to clarify whether this incident highlights aviation safety concerns related to wildlife interference in congested urban airspace.