A New York Metropolis sightseeing helicopter broke aside in midair Thursday and crashed upside-down into the Hudson River, killing the pilot and a household of 5 Spanish vacationers within the newest U.S. aviation catastrophe, officers mentioned.
The flight departed a downtown heliport round 3 p.m. and lasted lower than 18 minutes. Radar knowledge confirmed it flew north alongside the Manhattan skyline after which again south towards the Statue of Liberty alongside the New Jersey shoreline
Video of the crash confirmed elements of the plane tumbling by way of the air into the water close to the shoreline of Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey. Based on officers, the plane got here down off the Newport neighborhood and near the Holland Tunnel air flow tower with its acquainted construction on the sting of the river.
A witness there, Bruce Wall, mentioned he noticed it “falling apart” in midair, with the tail and propeller coming off. The propeller was nonetheless spinning with out the helicopter because it fell.
A part of the sightseeing helicopter was faraway from the Hudson River, however officers say the recovering of elements and proof is way from over. Here is what we all know up to now concerning the investigation and the victims killed in Thursday’s helicopter free fall.
Dani Horbiak was at her Jersey Metropolis residence when she heard what appeared like “several gunshots in a row, almost, in the air.” She regarded out her window and noticed the chopper “splash in a number of items into the river.”
Different neighbors described listening to a “thud” and seeing what regarded like one thing hitting the helicopter.
Restoration crews hoisted the mangled helicopter out of the water simply after 8 p.m. utilizing a floating crane.
The our bodies have been additionally recovered from the river, Mayor Eric Adams mentioned. 4 folks have been pronounced useless on the scene, and two others have been taken to the hospital, the place they “succumbed to their injuries,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch advised reporters.
The victims embody the pilot, a enterprise government, an grownup relative and three youngsters, officers mentioned.
The mayor of Jersey Metropolis says restoration operations have ended for the night time.
In a publish on X, Mayor Steven Fulop says “major parts” of the helicopter stay within the Hudson River and dive operations would resume on Friday morning.
“Major parts of the aircraft have not been recovered so dive operations by the NYPD and NJSP will resume tomorrow morning. The pier is being secured by PA. The main body of the aircraft has been recovered and is in the army corps of engineers facility on Chapel Avenue. The JCPD is securing that location,” the mayor posted.
The flight was operated by New York Helicopters, officers mentioned. Nobody answered the telephones on the firm’s places of work in New York and New Jersey.
An individual who answered the telephone on the residence of the corporate’s proprietor, Michael Roth, mentioned he declined to remark. Emails looking for remark have been despatched by the AP to attorneys who’ve represented Roth previously.
An individual who answered the telephone on the residence of the corporate’s proprietor, Michael Roth, declined to remark. Nonetheless Roth advised the New York Publish he was devastated and had “no clue” why the crash occurred.
“The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter,” the Publish quoted him as saying. He added that he had not seen such a factor occur throughout his 30 years within the helicopter enterprise, however famous: “These are machines, and they break.”
The Nationwide Transportation Security Board mentioned it could examine and was sending a “go-team,” which was anticipated to reach someday Thursday night time.
The NTSB is launching a go-team to research Thursday’s crash of a Bell 206 L-4 helicopter close to Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey.
Chairman Jennifer Homendy will function spokesperson on scene. The workforce is anticipated to reach tonight.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) April 10, 2025
Thursday’s crash was the primary for a helicopter within the metropolis since one hit the roof of a skyscraper in 2019, killing the pilot.
Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister of Spain, shared an announcement on X, the place he known as right this moment’s crash an “unimaginable tragedy.” His publish, translated to English, reads:
President Donald Trump promised extra info quickly on the crash.
“Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. Looks like six people, the pilot, two adults, and three children, are no longer with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his talented staff are on it. Announcements as to exactly what took place, and how, will be made shortly!,” the president posted to Reality Social.
The Coast Guard closed a part of the Hudson River to vessel entry close to the Jersey Metropolis Holland Tunnel air flow tower.
