I worked offshore for a number of years and we flew to work in a chopper. As part of our training, we are strapped I to a mock up helicopter and submerged into water, and when the cabin fills, the cab is rotated upside down. We were trained that when the movement stops, to unbuckle, press out the window as they are removable and double as emergency egress, and swim to the surface. It’s a VERY disorienting experience and it would be all but impossible to save anyone but yourself in that situation.
Your nose and sinuses fill with water. The pressure fills your skull. You’re scared and cold. You’re pushing on a window that need about 70 pounds of force to dislodge. You can’t breathe or see and you’re frantically trying to exit the bird.
Im certified to do so. It sucks. Now imagine it happening in an environment that is not controlled and with no life guards present. I would bet anything there’s nothing the pilot could do, and I won’t judge him
Good description. There probably wasn’t anything the pilot could do, but maybe the company needs to give people better instructions. I know they’re reluctant to call attention to the fact that there’s a risk with helicopters.
They fly around all the time in NYC with few accidents, but the problem is that when something does happen (and in NY, it’s virtually always something involving one of the rivers) the passengers aren’t prepared to deal with it.