(Bloomberg) – The five passengers trapped in a helicopter that ditched into the East River off New York Sunday night may have died because they were wearing hard-to-remove harnesses in the stricken craft, investigators said.
Photography harnesses
The harnesses, which are different than traditional aircraft seat belts, are designed to allow people to safely photograph from a helicopter with the doors open. They attach from the rear and would be difficult to remove in an emergency, according to a passenger on another flight who said he photographed the helicopter before the crash.
Related: Light aircraft crash claims
Divers in fast-moving, frigid waters had to cut the people loose 50 feet below the surface in order to remove them, New York Fire Department Commissioner Daniel Nigro said.
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