Deafening "loud bangs" were heard moments before a helicopter crashed in New York's Hudson River, killing six people, according to investigators. A preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) details how witnesses heard the bangs ahead of the chopper plunging into the water on April 10. The NTSB found that the aircraft had broken into three pieces in midair before crashing into the river.

Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39, and their three children, Victor, 4, Mercedes, 8, and Agustin, 10 were killed in the crash. The family was in New York to celebrate a birthday. Pilot, Seankese Johnson, 36, a US Navy veteran who received his commercial pilot’s license in 2023, also died.

In its preliminary report, the NTSB revealed Mr Johnson had just come back from a 10 day break. His schedule involved 10 days for flying and the same number of days off, which is a standard pattern for a pilot.

The tragic flight was Mr Johnson's eighth of the day and the seven trips before it went without a hitch, according to the report.

Special glasses capable of recording video and audio worn by the pilot haven't been recovered.

The helicopter tour and chopper were operated by New York Helicopter. Owner, Michael Roth, said the aircraft was needed fuel before it crashed.

Mr Roth told the Telegraph Mr Johnson called in to say he was landing and needed fuel.

The company boss said it should have taken three minutes to arrive, but the aircraft still hadn't landed 20 minutes later.

Witness Bruce Wall said he saw the helicopter "falling apart" in midair, with the tail and propeller coming off.

Video posted on social media showed parts of the chopper splashing into the water and the overturned aircraft submerged with rescue boats circling it.

The skies were overcast at the time, but visibility over the river wasn't significantly impaired.

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the helicopter as a Bell 206, a model widely used in commercial and government aviation, including by sightseeing companies.

Manhattan's skies are routinely filled with planes and helicopters. Over the years, there have been multiple crashes, including a collision between a plane and a tourist helicopter over the Hudson River in 2009. That incident killed nine people.

In 2018, the crash of a charter helicopter in the East River killed five people.

A cause for the crash on April 10 has yet to be revealed by the NTSB.