Helicopter crash in the Hudson River near Manhattan, 6 people including the pilot killed

On Thursday, a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in Manhattan, New York, killing all six people on board. Local media reported, citing officials, that the accident occurred between Lower Manhattan and Jersey City, prompting a massive emergency response on both sides.

A tourist helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing all six people on board, including three children, New York Mayor Eric Adams said. The dead included the pilot and five passengers from a Spanish family. The New York Helicopters tour plane took off at 2:59 p.m. and later lost control. At around 3:15 pm, it crashed into the river near Lower Manhattan and sank.

“A helicopter has crashed near West Side Highway and Spring Street in the Hudson River,” the New York Police Department (NYPD) said in a statement. There is a possibility of emergency vehicles and traffic jam in the area.”

The crash happened around 3:15 p.m. local time near Pier 40, the intersection of West Houston Street and West Street. According to the New York City Fire Department, they received a call at 3:17 p.m. reporting that the helicopter had fallen into the water. Rescue and relief teams were rushed to the spot immediately.

Videos shared on social media showed the Bell 206-model helicopter upside down and almost completely submerged in water. Several rescue boats were seen hovering around the helicopter.

The accident occurred at the end of a long maintenance pier located near one of the ventilation towers of the Holland Tunnel. Several emergency vehicles, including fire trucks, were deployed to the scene with sirens, and rescue workers were at the scene.

There have been several air crashes in New York City before. In 2009, nine people died in a collision between a small plane and a sightseeing helicopter over the Hudson River. In 2018, an open-door chartered helicopter crashed in the East River, killing five passengers.