Six folks died when a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurred at roughly 3:17 p.m. Thursday close to the Holland Tunnel air flow shaft in Jersey Metropolis, not removed from River Drive South and Newport Parkway, close to the Water’s Soul sculpture.
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams stated three adults and three youngsters have been killed, together with the pilot and a household from Spain. Their our bodies have been recovered, he stated.
“Our hearts exit to the household of those that have been on board and all six who have been on board of the helicopter,” New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams stated.
Picture obtained by CBS Information New York 
Emergency responders have been gathering on either side of the river. On the Manhattan aspect, the NYPD was mobilizing on the West Aspect Freeway and Spring Road.
The lethal flight
The helicopter concerned was a Bell 206, in accordance with the FAA. It was with the tour firm New York Helicopters, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated. It took off from Decrease Manhattan, in accordance with the New York Metropolis’s mayor’s workplace.
A supply aware of the investigation confirmed the helicopter was owned by an organization referred to as Meridian Helicopters out of Louisiana.
After takeoff, the helicopter apparently flew over Governor’s Island after which close to the Statue of Liberty earlier than heading up the Hudson River alongside Manhattan’s West Aspect earlier than turning round simply previous the George Washington Bridge and flying again down alongside the Jersey aspect of the river earlier than coming down close to Jersey Metropolis.
CBS Information New York 
Flight path information present for at the very least the final week, the helicopter has traveled to and from airports and heliports in our space, with a number of flights per day. It typically flies from one Manhattan heliport to a different, or from JFK to Newark, or from these airports to heliports.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash. The Coast Guard has established a security zone within the Hudson River, stopping vessel visitors a mile north and south of the river, which is impacting ferry service.
The water was about 50 levels on the time of the crash. The skies have been overcast with visibility of about 10 miles, and wind gusts of as much as 21 miles per hour.
Witnesses describe the crash
Witnesses described helicopter elements coming aside in mid-air earlier than plummeting down into the water. Particles may very well be seen flying from the helicopter because it plunged into the river. Tisch stated officers imagine the helicopter hit the water inverted.
“It truthfully truthfully like an engine got here out. I appeared exterior my window. I noticed a number of folks working in the direction of the water, and a few folks have been performing fairly regular. So I used to be like oh, it may not be something. Then I began to listen to all of the sirens come exterior,” Jersey Metropolis resident Jenn Lynk stated.
“I heard, like, such a loud sound. It felt like thunder. And since it was raining as we speak, it was similar to, OK, possibly. After which I noticed, like, black particles flying. Once more, I assumed possibly it is similar to, mud, or birds, after which we heard all of the emergency automobiles and sirens go by, and I feel that is when it was like, OK, what’s occurring,” Jersey Metropolis resident Ipsitaa Banigrhi stated.
Video appeared to point out flotation units on the helicopter’s touchdown gear within the water. The fuselage of the helicopter was not seen. The helicopter’s tail was additionally not seen.
“Clearly, a catastrophic failure of the plane. That is very apparent. Booms and noises like that point out some kind of mechanical concern,” CBS Information New York’s Dan Rice stated. Rice, who reviews from Chopper 2, incessantly flies in the identical mannequin helicopter. “There’s one video specifically the place you see the primary part of the helicopter, the fuselage, the other way up. And what struck me, what scared me, is the primary rotor system was gone. There is no fundamental rotor on the helicopter. And the tail increase was additionally gone, and it is only a vessel at that time with no course.”
Rice stated the tail rotor is what retains the helicopter from spinning uncontrolled.
“I can not think about what occurred there that would’ve led to that. We’ll await the investigation to present us these particulars, however from what I’ve seen, separation of the blades is what precipitated this chopper to go down. What led to the separation is what now we have to seek out out,” Rice stated.
Prior crashes on the Hudson River
In 2019, a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River shortly after refueling. The pilot was the one particular person on board on the time and suffered minor accidents.
In 2016, a vintage plane went down throughout a celebration for the American Airpower Museum. The pilot was killed.
Probably the most well-known crash was the “Miracle on the Hudson” in January 2009 when a aircraft struck birds shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport. Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger managed to land the aircraft on the river, saving the lives of 155 passengers and crew members.
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contributed to this report.
