Chilling footage showed a helicopter carrying Spanish tourists plummet into the Hudson River off Manhattan on Thursday afternoon, killing all on board, a source told ABC7.
An FDNY official told the Daily Beast that five passengers were on board, including two adults and three children, as well as the pilot. ABC reported the passengers were a family visiting from Spain.
CBS New York reported that all six bodies were recovered with no survivors. The helicopter involved was a Bell 206, which took off from Manhattan’s downtown area.
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The Post reported one of the victims was a child under the age of 10.
In a press conference late Thursday afternoon, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said a helicopter flying for a tour company departed from the downtown Manhattan heliport at 2:59 p.m. ET.
Around 15 minutes later, 911 received multiple calls of a helicopter crash, authorities said.
Tisch said divers arrived at the scene within minutes and took immediate lifesaving measures, but four passengers died on the scene while two others succumbed to their injuries at a hospital.
The helicopter was inverted when it hit the water and authorities are still investigating the cause.
“Our hearts go out to the family of those who were onboard,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show the chopper sinking in the river off Pier 40. The crash happened near the ventilation building for the Holland Tunnel around 3:15 p.m.
“WTF a helicopter just crashed into the Hudson next to my apartment,” one New York City resident posted on X. “We saw it all. The helicopter disintegrated midair before falling into the water. Horrific. I hope and pray there are survivors.”
“I heard a loud snap,” another witness told ABC7. “I could see a helicopter falling on its side and splash into the water. I didn’t see anyone come out.”
