Federal officials released images of a doomed New York City sightseeing helicopter as it broke apart in midair last month, killing six people.

The tour helicopter that fatally crashed into the Hudson River on April 10 broke apart midair prior to plummeting into the water, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Witnesses heard "loud bangs" last month from the doomed sightseeing helicopter just before it broke apart above the Hudson River and crashed, killing a family of five and the pilot, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.