The helicopter that crashed into New York City’s Hudson River on Thursday, killing six people including three children, had no flight recorders on board, US safety investigators revealed, raising concerns over the challenges of determining the cause of the tragedy.

The helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River in New York City on Thursday, killing all six on board, had no flight recorders, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed on Saturday.

The Bell 206 aircraft, which plunged into the river near Lower Manhattan shortly after 3:15 p.m. local time, did not carry any video or data recording equipment. The lack of flight recorders is expected to hamper the ongoing investigation into the tragic incident.

Among the victims were a senior executive of Siemens AG, his wife, and their three children. The sixth person, the pilot, was also recovered from the submerged wreckage by NYPD divers. Four people died at the scene, while the remaining two succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

Divers are continuing to search for key components of the helicopter, including the main and tail rotors. Some recovered parts have been sent to NTSB labs in Washington for further examination.

The aircraft had passed its last major inspection on 1 March and had completed seven tour flights earlier that day. Investigators are also reviewing operational records and safety procedures of the helicopter’s operator, New York Helicopter Charter.

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