On Thursday afternoon, a devastating helicopter crash in the Hudson River resulted in the loss of six lives, including three children. The crash occurred just off Lower Manhattan, near Hoboken, New Jersey, and authorities confirmed that none of the victims survived.
The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, was carrying a Spanish family of five, along with the pilot. It had departed from the Wall Street Heliport around 3:00 p.m. local time and had been airborne for a little over 15 minutes before the tragic incident took place. The aircraft, a Bell 206 model, had been on its sixth flight of the day when it lost control and plummeted into the cold waters of the Hudson.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop noted that the crash occurred near Hoboken, New Jersey, and eyewitness accounts of the incident described chaotic and horrifying scenes in the sky. Several onlookers reported seeing parts of the helicopter falling off mid-flight as it spiraled downward.
“I saw pieces fall off and then the helicopter fell out of the sky,” said Dani Horbiak, a resident who witnessed the tragedy from her apartment window. Another eyewitness described the catastrophic event as sounding like gunfire or a sonic boom, stating that the rotor detached before the helicopter plummeted into the river, upside down.
Local rescue teams arrived swiftly on the scene but found that the helicopter had already submerged in the frigid 50-degree waters. Despite the rapid response and intensive efforts from emergency teams, there was little they could do to save the victims.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences, saying, “Our hearts go out to the family and those on board.” Meanwhile, the Spanish Consulate in New York has been in contact with authorities and is working with Spain’s Foreign Ministry to help identify the victims and offer support to the grieving families.
