The NYPD reports that a sightseeing helicopter lost control shortly after takeoff from Manhattan, crashing into the Hudson River. All six individuals onboard, including a family from Spain, were confirmed dead. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the cause of the accident.
Tragic Hudson River Helicopter Crash Claims Six Lives
Tragic Hudson River Helicopter Crash Claims Six Lives
A helicopter crash in the Hudson River on Thursday resulted in the deaths of all six people onboard, sparking an ongoing investigation into the incident.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has confirmed that a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday, resulting in the tragic deaths of all six individuals onboard. The investigation into the crash is in its early stages, but officials have released several details regarding the fatal incident.
According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the helicopter was operated by New York Helicopters and took off from the Downtown Skyport located on the lower Manhattan side at approximately 14:59 local time (19:59 BST). Flight data from the real-time tracking site, Flightradar24, indicates that the helicopter spent around 15 minutes in the air, initially heading toward the Statue of Liberty, before turning north toward the George Washington Bridge. After circling back down the Hudson along New Jersey, the helicopter tragically plunged into the water near a pier in Hoboken, New Jersey, around 15:15 local time (20:15 BST), coming to rest upside down.
Eyewitness Bruce Wall, who was present during the crash, provided a heart-wrenching account, stating, "It started falling apart in mid-air, and then the tail came off and then just flipped over in mid-air and started falling to the ground."
The six people onboard included one American pilot and a family consisting of two adults and three children, who were enjoying a helicopter ride for scenic views of New York City. Despite the quick response from dive teams and CPR efforts, four victims were declared dead at the scene, while the other two were pronounced dead after being taken to local hospitals. Although New York City Mayor Eric Adams has not disclosed the names of the victims, he revealed that the family was visiting from Spain.
At this time, the cause of the crash remains under investigation, with the NTSB leading the inquiry. Commissioner Tisch noted that the "aircraft lost control" and struck the water just a few feet from a pier. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the helicopter as a Bell 206.
This tragic event marks the deadliest helicopter crash in New York City since at least 2018, when a sightseeing helicopter encountered a similar fate, resulting in five passenger fatalities and only one survivor, the pilot.
