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 Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams mentioned three adults and three youngsters have been killed, together with a household of 5 from Spain and the pilot. Their our bodies have been recovered, he mentioned.
“Our hearts exit to the household of those that have been on board and all six who have been on board of the helicopter,” Adams mentioned.
Siemens government Agustin Escobar, his spouse and their three youngsters have been on board, the German industrial conglomerate confirmed in an announcement Friday. CBS New York realized that the kids have been 4-, 5- and 11-years outdated.
“NYPD items from aviation, harbor, scuba and patrol all responded, with our first items arriving on the website inside minutes. Our NYPD divers entered the water, together with rescue personnel from FDNY, Port Authority and numerous New Jersey companies,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch mentioned. “NYPD divers pulled 4 individuals from the crash website, and FDNY divers recovered a further two. Instant lifesaving measures have been undertaken on the vessels on the scene in addition to the adjoining pier. 4 victims have been pronounced useless on scene, and two extra have been eliminated to native space hospitals, the place sadly each succumbed to their accidents.”
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 Avenue.
In a publish on Fact Social, President Trump wrote, “Horrible helicopter crash within the Hudson River. Appears to be like like six individuals, the pilot, two adults, and three youngsters, are now not with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the households and pals of the victims. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his gifted employees are on it. Bulletins as to precisely what passed off, and the way, shall be made shortly!”
The lethal flight
The helicopter concerned was a Bell 206, in line with the FAA. It was with the tour firm New York Helicopters, Tisch mentioned. It took off from Decrease Manhattan at round 3 p.m., Adams mentioned.
A supply accustomed to the investigation confirmed the helicopter was owned by an organization referred to 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 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.
Emergency responders on the scene of a lethal helicopter crash close to Jersey Metropolis on April 10, 2025.
CBS Information New York
“Right here you might have guests who have 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 mentioned. “Once more, our coronary heart goes out to the relations.”
“We’re deeply saddened by the tragedy on the Hudson River earlier in the present day involving New York Helicopter, an organization who operates out of our facility. Our hearts exit to the households and pals of all these impacted by this horrible incident. We’re cooperating with the entire acceptable companies and thank the entire first responders for his or her efforts,” mentioned a spokesman for Skyports, one of many corporations that handle the heliport.
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 usually 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 Information 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 mentioned. “We’re a small firm. I am a father and a grandfather, and we’re simply devastated. Now we have no clue what occurred.”
When requested, Roth declined to debate how usually the helicopter was inspected or how lately, saying, “We observe all the foundations 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 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 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 mentioned officers consider the helicopter hit the water inverted.
“The helicopter was just a little bit like nostril down, barely, and I noticed the propeller separating from the helicopter. It saved spinning within the air alone. Nothing was hooked up to it,” witness Sarah Jane Raymond Ryer mentioned.
“It sounded truthfully like an engine got here out. I appeared outdoors my window. I noticed a couple of individuals working in the direction of the water, and a few individuals 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 outdoors,” Jersey Metropolis resident Jenn Lynk mentioned.
“I heard, like, such a loud sound. It felt like thunder. And since it was raining in the present day, it was similar to, OK, perhaps. After which I noticed, like, black particles flying. Once more, I assumed perhaps 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 mentioned.
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 concern,” CBS Information New York’s Dan Rice mentioned. Rice, who stories from Chopper 2, continuously flies in the identical mannequin helicopter. “There’s one video specifically the place you see the principle element of the helicopter, the fuselage, the wrong way up. And what struck me, what scared me, is the principle rotor system was gone. There is no major rotor on the helicopter. And the tail increase was additionally gone, and it is only a vessel at that time with no course.”
Rice mentioned 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 look ahead to the investigation to present us these particulars, however from what I’ve seen, separation of the blades is what brought on this chopper to go down. What led to the separation is what now we have to search out out,” Rice mentioned.
A helicopter crashed into New York Metropolis’s Hudson River on April 10, 2025, killing all six individuals on board.
CBS Information New York
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, 5 individuals have been killed when their constitution helicopter went down within 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 classic aircraft 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.
Pat Milton
contributed to this report.
Extra from CBS Information
Jesse Zanger