Six dead after helicopter crashes into Hudson River near NYC’s Spring Street
Tourist group from Spain reportedly among victims as emergency crews respond to tragic crash
Tourist group from Spain reportedly among victims as emergency crews respond to tragic crash
NEW YORK — A helicopter carrying six people — believed to include three adults and three children from Spain — crashed into the Hudson River on the afternoon of 10 April, killing everyone on board, a source confirmed to the Associated Press.
The aircraft went down shortly after 3:15 p.m. near the West Side Highway and Spring Street, not far from the ventilation towers of the Holland Tunnel. Authorities said the chopper appeared to crash on the New Jersey side of the water, close to Jersey City.
Videos circulating online show the helicopter mostly submerged and overturned, with only its landing skids visible above the waterline. Emergency services from New York and New Jersey, including the Coast Guard, swiftly responded, cordoning off the area and launching rescue operations.
While the New York Police Department has not officially confirmed the fatalities, WABC-TV and WCBS-TV reported that all six occupants — including the pilot — did not survive. Eyewitnesses described a chilling scene, with rescue boats racing to the site and helicopters circling above.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. The FAA and NTSB are expected to lead the inquiry.
New York skies are busy with both tourist and commuter helicopters, and this incident echoes other fatal crashes in recent years, including the 2018 East River disaster and the 2009 midair collision that killed nine.
As officials continue to gather facts, the crash has once again raised questions about the safety of sightseeing flights in one of the world’s busiest airspaces.
(Sources: Agence France-Presse, People, ABC7 LA)
