June 18, 2005

Credit card exec describes helicopter submersion

The CEO and five other executives of the world's largest independent credit card company were the passengers on the helicopter that crashed on Friday afternoon, the second copter crash into the East River in four days.

All the passengers have been released from the hospital except the pilot, who was upgraded to critical but stable condition on Saturday, according to NY1.

Lance Weaver, the senior vice chairman of Delaware-based MBNA Corp. spoke to reporters today via conference call, describing what it was like submerged upsidedown underwater, holding his breath and trying to open the door to escape. "The cabin was full of water, and I knew in my mind that we needed to get that door open _ that time was of the essence," Weaver said. "As we were tumbling in the cabin, I would say that we felt that it was about a minute of submersion, from the point we hit the water until we probably got that door open."

The causes of both crashes are under investigation.

Read more from the Associated Press, the New York Times and Newday's account of the Fresh Direct delivery guy who jumped in the river to rescue a few of the passengers and then got back in his truck to finish his grocery deliveries.

Earlier: Pilot in danger of salt-water drowning after crash
Another helicopter crashes into East River
British tourist in serious condition after copter crash
Tourist helicopter crashes in East River near Wall St.

June 18, 2005 10:42 PM in Arrivology

®Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved