Camilla Jessen
Witnesses say the aircraft disintegrated mid-air before slamming into the water.
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A helicopter crash in New York City has claimed six lives, including three children, after the aircraft plummeted into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurred around 3:17 p.m. local time, between Manhattan and the New Jersey shoreline, drawing emergency crews from across the city to the river’s edge.
The New York Fire Department (FDNY) confirmed that all six passengers, including the pilot and a Spanish family, were killed in the crash.
The aircraft—a Bell 206 helicopter, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—reportedly broke apart mid-air before crashing into the water upside down.
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Witnesses Describe Horror in the Sky
Eyewitness Bruce Wall told the Associated Press that he saw the helicopter disintegrate as it flew over the river.
The tail and propeller detached,” he said. “The propeller was still spinning as it fell.
Lesly Camacho, a waitress at a waterfront restaurant in Hoboken, New Jersey, also witnessed the crash.
It was spinning pretty fast and hit the water violently,” she told the AP. “There was a lot of smoke coming out.
Video clips shared on social media captured dramatic scenes of helicopter debris splashing into the water, followed by rescue boats converging on the crash site.
The aircraft was seen floating upside down before quickly sinking.
The water temperature at the time was around 7°C (44°F), posing extreme risks for anyone submerged.
A History of Tragedy in Crowded Skies
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Manhattan’s airspace is notoriously busy, with a mix of commercial flights, private jets, and tourist helicopters frequently taking off from multiple heliports along the East and Hudson Rivers.
While the skies were cloudy on Thursday, visibility over the Hudson was reportedly clear enough for safe flying conditions.
New York has witnessed similar aviation tragedies before.
In 2009, a sightseeing helicopter collided with a small plane over the Hudson, killing nine people.
In 2018, an open-door tourist helicopter plunged into the East River, killing five. Earlier this year, a series of fatal aviation incidents—including a mid-air collision in Washington that killed 67 people—have renewed scrutiny of U.S. flight safety.
An International Family Among the Victims
New York City Mayor’s Office confirmed that the victims included a family from Spain. The names have not yet been released pending notification of relatives.
Officials have described the crash as one of the city’s deadliest helicopter incidents in recent years.
Recovery operations concluded Thursday evening, with divers and emergency teams retrieving all six bodies. The FAA said it will work closely with the NTSB in a full investigation to determine what caused the catastrophic failure.