A tragic event has shaken New York City after a tourist helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing all six people on board. The incident occurred Friday afternoon near Pier 25, between West and Canal streets, a popular tourist area in Manhattan.
According to authorities, the pilot and a family of tourists from Spain, two adults and three children, were on board the Bell 206 helicopter. Unfortunately, no one survived the accident.
Firefighters said they received an emergency call at around 3:17 p.m. local time, reporting a helicopter crashing into the water. Footage posted on social media showed the aircraft inverted and partially submerged, as rescuers tried to pull bodies from the plane.
Numerous emergency forces, including lifeboats, firefighters and other vehicles, were at the scene, while investigations into the causes of the crash are still ongoing.
US President Donald Trump reacted immediately after the tragic news:
"A terrible accident has occurred on the Hudson River. Very sad to hear that six people, including three children, have lost their lives. God bless the families and friends of the victims. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is monitoring the situation closely," he said.
According to New York Mayor Eric Adams, "the helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River broke apart in midair and landed upside down in the river between Manhattan and the New Jersey shoreline."
Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations to determine whether the accident was the result of a technical defect, human error or some other factor.
Helicopters are a common sight in the Manhattan skies, where they are widely used for tourism purposes and rapid transportation.
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