Three adults and three children were killed after their helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Manhattan on Thursday afternoon.
“At this time, all six victims have been removed from the water,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said during a press conference. “And sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased.”
The victims were a pilot and a family of tourists visiting from Spain, according to Adams. Their identities are being withheld for now until their families are notified.
Four of the individuals were pulled from the crash site and pronounced dead at the scene. Two other victims were transported to local hospitals, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
The Bell 206 helicopter was owned by tour company New York Helicopter and left the downtown Manhattan heliport at 2:59 p.m.
Based on flight tracking software, the aircraft flew south before turning to fly north along the Manhattan shoreline up the Hudson River. At 3:08 p.m., the helicopter reached the George Washington Bridge and then turned again to fly south along the New Jersey shoreline. Shortly after, the helicopter lost control and plunged into the Hudson River.
Officials said multiple emergency calls began to come in starting at approximately 3:17 p.m.
Multiple emergency crews responded to the incident, including the New York City Fire Department (NYFD), the New York Police Department (NYPD), and the United States Coast Guard.
Crews arrived within minutes, and NYFD Commissioner Robert Tucker said rescue divers immediately entered the water.
The NYPD earlier in the day issued an alert about the incident.
“Due to a helicopter crash in the Hudson River, in the vicinity of the West Side Highway and Spring Street, expect emergency vehicles and traffic delays in the surrounding areas,” the New York Police Department (NYPD) said on its official X account.
Video posted to social media shows the moment the aircraft hit the water. The helicopter was “inverted” when it crashed into the river and the cabin piece could be seen sticking out of the water.
Erik Bottcher, a New York City councilman, noted on X that the crash happened on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River.
“Helicopter crash in the Hudson River on the NJ side—emergency response is underway. NYFD’s Marine Unit is on site,” he said. “Police activity: Expect traffic delays, mass transit disruptions, and road closures. Emergency personnel are in the area. Please avoid the Hudson River area.”
The cause of the deadly crash is under investigation.
