A helicopter has crashed into the Hudson River near Manhattan’s West Side, close to Pier 40 and the Holland Tunnel.
The helicopter, identified as a Bell 206 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), reportedly carried six passengers. The helicopter was carrying a pilot, two adults and three children, according to law enforcement sources. Authorities have so far confirmed at least three fatalities, though early reports suggest that all six occupants of the helicopter may have died.
The tragic accident occurred in the afternoon, sending emergency crews rushing to the scene. The New York Police Department (NYPD), alongside the FDNY and EMS, are presently in attendance.
Rescue efforts are ongoing at the crash site.
Bell 206L LongRanger Crash
According to data from AirNav Radar, the helicopter involved appears to be a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV helicopter, registered N216MH. The last available flight data shows the helicopter descending at approximately 3,500 feet per minute.
Video footage surfacing on social media shows an apparent detachment of the tail assembly and possibly a main rotor blade.
One onlooker heard loud noises, hinting at possible mechanical failure, while another saw the helicopter break apart midair before plunging into the water.
Rescue teams pulled several individuals from the river, but the condition of survivors remains unclear.
Emergency response footage captured the helicopter partially submerged near the riverbank. Boats and emergency personnel are currently operating at the site.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, with no official statement yet released. This incident marks another aviation tragedy in the Hudson River area. In August 2009, a helicopter and light plane collided over the river, killing nine people.
Local residents and commuters watched on in shock as the events unfolded. The crash disrupted the usual calm of the busy waterway. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as they piece together what happened.
Update: 6 Confirmed Dead
NYC Mayor Eric Adams has provided an update, confirming all six occupants of the helicopter died when it crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday 9 April. A pilot and five passengers – two adults and three children – were confirmed to be aboard the tour helicopter.
Agustin Escobar, President and CEO of Siemens in Spain, along with his wife and their three children, have been identified as the victims of the helicopter that plunged into the Hudson River in New York City on Thursday, according to the New York Post.
Mayor Adams said his heart goes out to the family and to the pilot killed in the helicopter crash on the Hudson River.
Former military aviator and attorney Jim Brauchle of Motley Rice LLC has provided further comment on the tragic accident.
“Having previously represented the families of tourists killed during a helicopter tour over the Hudson River, my heart goes out to the families at this catastrophic time. As we have learned during that and other helicopter crash investigations, it is too soon to draw conclusions.”
“However, from the footage, it appears that the main rotor struck the body of the helicopter, cutting off the tail of the helicopter, which created an unrecoverable event. The two main causes of this phenomenon are mechanical failure or excessive maneuvering. Still, a full investigation is needed to understand why this tragedy occurred,” Brauchle said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
