Six individuals useless after helicopter crashes into Hudson River close to midtown Manhattan: stories

A helicopter, carrying at least six people, crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon, leaving six people dead, reports say.

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.

Six people were believed to be on board: a pilot, two adults and three children, the New York Times reported. Some of the people aboard are believed to be a family who were visiting New York City.

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 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.”

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.”

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Source: independent.co.uk