A devastating helicopter crash in New York has claimed the lives of six people, including three children and their parents visiting from Spain. The aircraft went down in the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon, prompting a major emergency response, but, tragically, no one survived.
Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the heartbreaking news: “At this time, all six victims have been removed from the water. And sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased.”
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The passengers had set off on a sightseeing tour, taking off from the downtown Manhattan Skyport at around 3 pm. The helicopter, a Bell 206, headed south, then flew up the west side of Manhattan towards the George Washington Bridge before it turned around. That’s when disaster struck — the chopper lost control and plunged into the river near Hoboken Pier.
One witness, fashion designer Belle Angel, saw the terrifying moment it all unfolded. “It appeared like the helicopter’s rotor blade shattered in the sky,” she said. “And after it shattered, then we saw the helicopter just spiral… And then it just crashed into the water just like that.”
The water rescue operation kicked off immediately, with divers from both the NYPD and FDNY rushing to the scene. Police commissioner Jessica Tisch said, “NYPD divers pulled four people from the crash site, and FDNY Divers recovered an additional two. Immediate lifesaving measures were undertaken on the vessels at the scene, as well as the adjoining pier.” Despite their efforts, four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and the remaining two passed away later in hospital.
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Photos from the scene showed the chopper’s landing skids sticking out of the water beside a tunnel vent, while police and fire boats crowded the area. Floatation devices were spotted on the aircraft’s skids — but it was too late. The water temperature was just 8°C, adding to the urgency and difficulty of rescue attempts.
The helicopter was operated by New York Helicopter, which lists the Bell 206 among its fleet. They’ve yet to respond to any inquiries. The FAA confirmed it will be working with the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate what caused the crash.
The conditions in the city weren’t great for flying — local news station NBC4 even reported that their own chopper couldn’t take off due to gusty winds and heavy cloud cover.
President Donald Trump reacted on Truth Social, calling it a “terrible” accident and adding, “The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims.”
It’s not the first time the Hudson River has seen an aviation incident — in 2009, a US Airways flight famously landed safely on its waters in what was later dubbed the “Miracle on the Hudson.” Sadly, this time, there was no miracle.
Brooklyn Borough President Mark Levine noted that this marks one of about 30 helicopter crashes in New York since 1980 and called for tighter controls on helicopter activity in the city.
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