Strange because it seemed like it landed safely and if everyone had gotten their belts off they probably would have survived.
The report I saw suggests to me that they drowned.It said that they were belted in with "fighter pilot type" belts (my words,not theirs) and that these belts would be difficult to uncouple in a situation like theirs.The impact didn't look that bad but if they were really belted in tight while upside-down in the water...there's your explanation.
I'll be streaming WOR in New York in a while and They're sure to have details.
They usually flip upside down, fill with water quickly and are very tightly packed.
You have only a few seconds before it starts to sink.
This probably explains why only the pilot survived. And no, he would not have been able to help others before becoming trapped and drowning himself, especially given the water temperature.