Six people killed in crash, media reports say
An official has told the AP and ABC News that all six people onboard are dead. A New York City police spokesperson said that police boats were assisting in the rescue efforts on the Hudson, but details such as how many people were onboard were not immediately available.
The helicopter was carrying a pilot, two adults and three children, according to law enforcement sources. The family members were tourists from Spain, sources told ABC News.
Key events
Joanna Walters
At this hour, witnesses can see a host of emergency responder boats on the river close to the New Jersey side , and a crane is on a floating platform in the river, presumably trying to raise the sunken helicopter.
The Hudson River runs up the west side of Manhattan and divides New York City on the west from the neighboring state of New Jersey, directly across the water.
AP reports that all aboard the helicopter are dead, six fatalities in total. Those observing await official confirmation.
The New York representative Grace Meng said she is “devastated” to learn about the deadly helicopter crash in the Hudson River.
“Aviation accidents are becoming far too common,” she posted on X, adding that her heart is with all of the victims and their families.
Joanna Walters
The spot where the helicopter crashed is less than three miles (4.8km) south of where US Airways Capt Chesley Sullenberger expertly landed the passenger plane he was piloting, on the water, with no lives lost, after the engines were put out in a bird strike after take-off from the airport.
The 2009 rare successful emergency landing on water became known as the miracle on the Hudson. But the scene at the Hudson today is grim, as New York fire department divers emerge from the water.
The scene is close to the bottom of the island of Manhattan, within sight of the Statue of Liberty and the One World Trade skyscraper at the site of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack that brought down the original twin towers of the World Trade Center, killing almost 3,000 people.
New York City mayor Eric Adams said his team are at the scene of the “heartbreaking and tragic crash” in the Hudson River.
“Please avoid the area near Pier 40 in Manhattan in the meantime,” Adams posted to X.
New Jersey mayor Phil Murphy said he has been briefed by law enforcement on the “tragic” incident.
Police and fire crews have been pictured responding to the scene of the crash.
New York mayor Eric Adams to hold news briefing soon
New York City mayor Eric Adams is expected at the pier shortly to talk to those assembled, including the media. The tourist helicopter that went down is not visible from the city end of the pier at this time, as the emergency authorities continue to work the scene.
Conditions are murky with a light but brisk breeze. Fire department scuba teams are emerging from the water.
The helicopter was a tourist helicopter, which took off from lower Manhattan, media reports say. It crashed on the New Jersey side of the Hudson river.
Rescuers are trying to secure the wreckage, which can be seen floating upside down in the river.
Joanna Walters
In steady rain and light winds, a large number of emergency response craft are circling in the grey water of the Hudson, and a series of fire and police personnel are coming and going under incident tape stopping the public and press from reaching the end of a long concrete pier sticking into the river from downtown Manhattan.
Six people killed in crash, media reports say
An official has told the AP and ABC News that all six people onboard are dead. A New York City police spokesperson said that police boats were assisting in the rescue efforts on the Hudson, but details such as how many people were onboard were not immediately available.
The helicopter was carrying a pilot, two adults and three children, according to law enforcement sources. The family members were tourists from Spain, sources told ABC News.
The FAA has released a preliminary statement, saying:
A Bell 206 helicopter crashed and is submerged in the Hudson River in New York City. The number of people on board is unknown at this time. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The @NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates.
Several people reportedly killed in crash
There are conflicting reports about the number of fatalities, but several media reports say a number of people have been killed in the crash.
According to ABC News, five people have died while rescuers are searching for a sixth person in the Hudson River.
News reports said a family from Spain and the pilot were onboard. ABC News quoted law enforcement as saying the family were two adults and two children visiting New York City.
A helicopter crashed on Thursday afternoon into the Hudson River in New York City, city authorities said.
New York’s fire department said it had received a report of a helicopter in the huge tidal waterway that runs up the west side of Manhattan at 3.17pm ET.
Videos posted on social media showed the aircraft mostly submerged and upside down, as well as rescue vehicles crowding the streets on shore as an attempt to save those onboard got under way.
FDNY said it had units on scene performing rescue operations. Multiple rescue boats were seen on video circling the aircraft.
The rescue craft were near a site close to the Manhattan waterfront, near the end of a long maintenance pier for one of the ventilation towers for the Holland Tunnel, a busy under-river road tunnel connecting the city with New Jersey.
This is a developing story. We’ll bring you the latest updates as we have them.