A helicopter crash in the Hudson River near Manhattan on Thursday has killed at least six people, according to reports. The shocking incident was caught on camera, showing the helicopter breaking apart in mid-air and crashing into the water.
The helicopter crash happened around 3:15 p.m. (ET) near Pier 40, at West Houston Street and West Street. Witnesses said they heard a loud “thumping noise” as the helicopter fell from the sky. Videos shared online showed the aircraft splitting in half before crashing into the river.
Fire officials said there were at least four people on board, but later reports confirmed six people were killed, including the pilot, two adults, and three children.
Flightradar24, a website that tracks flights in real-time, said the helicopter was likely a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV with the registration number N216MH. The helicopter was seen flying unevenly through fog just before the crash.
At the scene, boats were seen trying to rescue anyone who might have survived the helicopter crash. However, experts said that the cloudy water and silt in the Hudson River make it difficult to locate the wreckage quickly. Divers had to be called in, but it would take some time for them to arrive and begin their work.
U.S. President Donald Trump responded to the incident on his social media platform, TruthSocial. He expressed sadness over the accident and said an investigation would soon reveal what caused the helicopter crash.
“Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. Looks like six people are no longer with us. The footage is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims,” Trump posted.
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Aviation analyst Peter Goelz told that the recovery would be difficult due to the water conditions in the Hudson River. He also mentioned that locating the exact crash site under water could take time.
This tragic helicopter crash happened just a few hours after two American Airlines jets, carrying members of Congress, accidentally bumped wings at the Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington. Fortunately, no one was hurt in that incident.
