Six people, including three children, have died after a sightseeing helicopter plunged into the Hudson River in New York, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The victims include a family of five from Spain and the American pilot operating the aircraft.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “Our hearts go out to the families,” during a press briefing, while authorities stressed that next of kin are yet to be notified.
The crash occurred shortly after the helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, departed from Downtown Skyport in lower Manhattan at 14:59 local time (19:59 BST). The Bell 206 aircraft lost control minutes later as it turned at the George Washington Bridge to follow the New Jersey shoreline.
Video footage captured the harrowing moment the aircraft flipped upside down mid-air before plunging into the river at approximately 15:17 EDT (21:17 WAT).
New York Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker said emergency responders were on the scene within minutes. “Swimmers were in the water shortly after the call,” he said, adding that rescue teams undertook “immediate life-saving measures” that sadly proved unsuccessful. Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, while the other two died at a nearby hospital.
The crash site is close to Manhattan’s west side, near New York University and a popular area known for its shopping and restaurants.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed the victims’ identities would be withheld until their families have been informed. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Reacting to the tragedy, President Donald Trump described the incident as “terrible” in a social media post, adding, “God bless the families and friends of the victims.”
Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter Charter Inc., said he was “devastated” by the crash. “I’m a father, a grandfather, and my wife hasn’t stopped crying since this afternoon,” he told CNN.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as the helicopter fell. “I saw, like, black particles flying,” said Jersey City resident Ipsitaa Banigrhi. Another local, Jenn Lynk, said she initially thought nothing of the commotion until emergency sirens filled the area.
The crash echoes past tragedies involving sightseeing flights in the city. In 2018, five passengers drowned when a helicopter went down in the East River.
In 2009, nine people died when a tourist helicopter collided with a private plane over the Hudson River.
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