The doomed tourist helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River last month, killing six people, emitted “loud bangs” before breaking into three pieces, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report Wednesday.

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.

Surveillance footage and audio captured the helicopter traveling south before it "suddenly separated into three major sections," the NTSB said.