New York April 11: A helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York City on Thursday after its wings fell off while in flight. At least six people, including three children, were killed in the tourist helicopter, Reuters reported. The deceased included a family from Spain and the pilot, Mayor Eric Adams said.
Two of the injured were initially taken to hospital but later died, news agency AFP reported. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the victims of the crash, but the New York Post reported that those on board included Agustin Escobar, president and CEO of Siemens of Spain, his wife and their three children.
All six bodies have been recovered from the water at this point. "The saddest thing is that none of them have been declared alive," Mayor Eric Adams told a news conference. He called it a "heartbreaking and tragic accident."
US President Donald Trump, responding to the crash, tweeted, "Terrible helicopter crash on the Hudson River. It appears that six people, the pilot, two adults and three children are no longer with us. The scenes of the crash are horrific."
"God bless the families and friends of the victims. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his staff are involved in the rescue effort. Announcements will be made soon on exactly what happened and how!" Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth.
According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the Bell 206 helicopter operated by New York Helicopter Tours took off from a helipad in the city center at 3 p.m. and flew north over the Hudson. It turned south as it approached the George Washington Bridge and crashed into the river minutes later, Tisch said, before crashing into the water near Lower Manhattan at around 3:15 p.m.
Videos of the tragedy shared on social media showed a large object falling into the river. The helicopter was seen toppling over like a blade seconds later. Soon, emergency and police boats surrounded the area of the river.
Eyewitness Bruce Wall told the Associated Press that he saw the helicopter "fall apart" in the air, with the fuselage and wings separated. He said the propeller was still spinning as the plane fell.
Manhattan's skies are regularly filled with planes and helicopters, both private pleasure planes and commercial and tourist flights.
In 2018, a charter helicopter offering "open door" flights crashed into the East River, killing five people. In 2009, nine people died in a collision between a plane and a tourist helicopter over the Hudson River.