Six folks lifeless after helicopter crashes into Hudson River close to midtown Manhattan: reviews
Six people are dead after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon.
Three adults and three children were believed to be on board, according to reports. Some of the people aboard are believed to be a family who were visiting New York City.
Around 3:15 p.m., the helicopter, a Bell 206 LongRanger, went down into the river that divides New York City from New Jersey. The helicopter appeared to have taken off from Manhattan, according to FlightRadar24.
All six are dead, an official told The Associated Press.
Recovery efforts were underway on both sides of the river. New York Police Department officials said emergency responders were gathered near Pier40 on the West Side Highway and Spring Street
NYPD told locals to “expect emergency vehicles and traffic delays in the surrounding areas.”
Videos of the incident circulated social media, showing emergency boats surrounding the helicopter, which was upside down in the waters.
Avi Rakesh, who posted a video of the helicopter on X, said he witnessed one of the helicopter blades fly off.
“I don’t know what happened to the tail, but it just straight up dropped,” Rakesh told NBC News. “It dropped feet away from Holland Tunnel, and I can’t imagine if it hit it.”
Another witness, Peter Park of Jersey City, New Jersey, told the New York Times he heard “a loud bang” around the time of the incident and looked out the window to see the aircraft emitting black smoke. Park said he saw the unattached blades of the helicopter falling into the river
In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board said they were leading the investigation on the incident.
“A Bell 206 helicopter crashed and is submerged in the Hudson River in New York City,” the FAA and NTSB said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrived at the scene roughly an hour and a half after the incident, calling it “heartbreaking and tragic crash.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he was briefed on the crash and the New Jersey State Police as well as Port Authority of New Jersey and New York were supporting emergency responders in their efforts.
This is a breaking news story, more follows…
Source: independent.co.uk
