Helicopter crash in Hudson River kills all 6 aboard

Six individuals died when a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River Thursday afternoon.

The incident occurred at round 3:17 p.m. 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 City Mayor Eric Adams said three adults and three youngsters had been killed, together with a household of 5 from Spain and the pilot. Their our bodies have been recovered, he stated.

“Our hearts exit to the household of those that had been on board and all six who had been on board of the helicopter,” Adams stated. 

CBS News New York has discovered the 5 of the six victims are Siemens govt Agustin Escobar, his spouse, and their three youngsters, ages 4, 5 and 11.

“NYPD items from aviation, harbor, scuba and patrol all responded, with our first items arriving on the web site inside minutes. Our NYPD divers entered the water, together with rescue personnel from FDNY, Port Authority and varied New Jersey companies,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated. “NYPD divers pulled 4 individuals from the crash web site, and FDNY divers recovered an extra two. Fast lifesaving measures had been undertaken on the vessels on the scene in addition to the adjoining pier. 4 victims had been pronounced useless on scene, and two extra had been eliminated to native space hospitals, the place sadly each succumbed to their accidents.” 

Emergency responders had been gathering on either side of the river. On the Manhattan facet, the NYPD was mobilizing on the West Facet Freeway and Spring Road.

In a publish on Fact Social, President Trump wrote, “Horrible helicopter crash within the Hudson River. Appears like six individuals, the pilot, two adults, and three youngsters, are not with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the households and associates of the victims. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his proficient workers are on it. Bulletins as to precisely what befell, and the way, can be made shortly!”

The lethal flight

The helicopter concerned was a Bell 206, in accordance with the FAA. It was with the tour firm New York Helicopters, Tisch stated. It took off from Decrease Manhattan at round 3 p.m., Adams stated. 

A supply accustomed to the investigation confirmed the helicopter was owned by an organization known as Meridian Helicopters out of Louisiana. That firm describes itself as a helicopter brokerage; they promote, lease and refurbish helicopters.

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 Facet earlier than turning round simply previous the George Washington Bridge and flying again down alongside the Jersey facet of the river earlier than coming down close to Jersey Metropolis. 

“Right here you will have guests who had been right here simply to see a picturesque and a legendary skyline. And sadly we misplaced 5 relations and a pilot to an incident,” Adams said. “Once more, our coronary heart goes out to the relations.”  

“We’re deeply saddened by the tragedy on the Hudson River earlier right now involving New York Helicopter, an organization who operates out of our facility. Our hearts exit to the households and associates of all these impacted by this horrible incident. We’re cooperating with the entire applicable companies and thank the entire first responders for his or her efforts,” stated a spokesman for Skyports, one of many corporations that handle the heliport. 

Flight path information present for no less than 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.

New York Helicopter CEO Michael Roth informed CBS News New York investigators haven’t informed him something about the reason for the crash.

“I do not know something how this went down. The one factor I can inform you, we’re devastated. My spouse hasn’t stopped crying since this afternoon,” he stated. “We’re a small firm. I am a father and a grandfather, and we’re simply devastated. We now have no clue what occurred.”

When requested, Roth declined to debate how typically the helicopter was inspected or how lately, saying, “We observe all the principles and extra.”

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 had 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 components 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. 

“The helicopter was slightly bit like nostril down, barely, and I noticed the propeller separating from the helicopter. It stored spinning within the air alone. Nothing was hooked up to it,” witness Sarah Jane Raymond Ryer stated.

“It sounded actually like an engine got here out. I appeared outdoors my window. I noticed a couple of individuals working in direction of the water, and a few individuals had 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 outdoors,” Jersey Metropolis resident Jenn Lynk stated. 

“I heard, like, such a loud sound. It felt like thunder. And since it was raining right now, it was identical to, OK, perhaps. After which I noticed, like, black particles flying. Once more, I believed perhaps it is identical to, mud, or birds, after which we heard all of the emergency autos 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 gadgets 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 problem,” CBS News New York’s Dan Rice stated. Rice, who stories from Chopper 2, frequently flies in the same model helicopter. “There’s one video particularly 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 not any principal rotor on the helicopter. And the tail growth was additionally gone, and it is only a vessel at that time with no path.” 

Rice stated the tail rotor is what retains the helicopter from spinning uncontrolled. 

“I am unable to think about what occurred there that would’ve led to that. We’ll watch for the investigation to provide 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 we’ve to search out out,” Rice stated.

The principle physique of the plane was recovered from the river Thursday night, however authorities say dive operations will resume Friday for different main components.

Prior crashes on New York Metropolis’s rivers

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 March 2018, five people were killed when their charter helicopter went down in the East River. The pilot survived. It was an open door flight, and that crash led to laws and an eventual ban on open-door helicopter flights within the metropolis.  

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 airplane struck birds shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport. Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger managed to land the airplane on the river, saving the lives of 155 passengers and crew members.

contributed to this report.