East River Crash Victims Could Not Break Free From Harnesses, Investigators Say
- Harnesses allow passengers take photos through open doors
- Five died and divers had to cut them loose from aircraft
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Federal crash investigators said they will examine the role of hard-to-remove harnesses that may have trapped five passengers in a helicopter that ditched in the East River in New York on Sunday.
The harnesses, which are different than traditional aircraft seat belts, are designed to allow people to safely take photographs from a helicopter with the doors open. They attach from the rear and could be difficult to remove in an emergency, according to a passenger on another flight who said he photographed the helicopter before the crash.