Topline
A sightseeing helicopter crashed in the Hudson River in New York City on Thursday, killing all six people—a family of five and the pilot—onboard, marking the latest in a series of aviation disasters and near misses in the past few months.
Emergency crews pull wreckage of the helicopter out from the Hudson River after it crashed into the … More
Anadolu via Getty ImagesKey Facts
The New York Police Department said in a post on X just before 3:40 p.m. EDT the crash was “in the vicinity of the West Side Highway and Spring Street” and said people can “expect emergency vehicles and traffic delays in the surrounding areas.”
Six people—a family of five believed to be visiting from Spain and the pilot—were killed in the crash, New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a press conference Thursday afternoon.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the helicopter with three adults and three children left from a downtown skyport at 2:59 p.m. EDT, and the investigation is ongoing.
The fire department received a report of a helicopter—later identified as a Bell 206 helicopter—in the water at 3:17 p.m. EDT, and had units on scene for rescue operations, the New York Fire Department told Forbes.
The Federal Aviation Association said in a statement at 4:30 p.m. EDT that it and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the helicopter was flying “in the Special Flight Rules Area established in New York which means no air traffic control services were being provided when the helicopter crashed.”
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What Do We Know About The People On Board The Helicopter?
Officials said at a press conference just before 6 p.m. EDT that there were six people onboard. They believed it was a tourist helicopter, which the New York Times reported often fly over the river taking visitors through Lower Manhattan and New Jersey. The Times report added that the crashed aircraft was operated by New York Helicopter, whose tours around the city cost several hundreds of dollars. While the identities of the victims have not been released, an unnamed source told the Associated Press that Siemens executive Agustin Escobar and his family were the passengers on board.
What Have New York Elected Officials Said About The Helicopter Crash?
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement on X he is closely monitoring the crash and confirmed the National Transportation Safety Board is on its way to NYC. In the statement, he said, “I’m praying for all those impacted and for our brave first responders on the scene. We have to fight for safety in the air.” Adams also posted a statement to X prior to his press conference, saying the crash was “heartbreaking and tragic” and asking people to avoid the area near Pier 40 in Manhattan. Hochul said on X she was “briefed on this horrific crash” and joins “all New Yorkers in praying for those we’ve lost and their families.”
What Have President Trump And Federal Officials Said About The Helicopter Crash?
President Donald Trump mentioned the “Terrible helicopter crash” in a Truth Social post noting that the “footage of the accident is horrendous.” He then added: “God bless the families and friends of the victims. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his talented staff are on it. Announcements as to exactly what took place, and how, will be made shortly!” Duffy reshared the post on X and wrote: “The FAA will have investigators on site tonight and we are also launching a Safety Review Team later tonight.”
Key Background
New York City has seen a number of helicopter crashes in recent decades, with incidents killing at least 32 people from 1977 to 2019, the Associated Press reported. In 2018, a private charter helicopter crashed in New York’s East River and killed all five passengers onboard, though the pilot survived. In the years after the crash, the NTSB determined the cause of the crash was that “a tether from a safety harness worn by a passenger in the front seat got caught on a floor-mounted fuel lever.” In 2019, there were two helicopter crashes in New York City, one of which was fatal, according to the AP.
Further Reading
Helicopter crashes into the Hudson River near Jersey City (CBS)
NYPD responding to helicopter in Hudson River (ABC7 New York)
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