Six people, including a pilot and five members of a Spanish family, were killed when a tourist helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Lower Manhattan on Thursday afternoon.
A tragic helicopter crash claimed six lives in New York on Thursday (April 10), as a sightseeing aircraft went down in the Hudson River shortly after 3 PM local time. According to a BBC report, the victims included the pilot, two adults, and three children—tourists from Spain who were all members of the same family.
The helicopter had been airborne for about 15 minutes, flying around the skies near Manhattan before the crash. Witness footage shows the helicopter spiraling out of control and plunging into the river without its tail rotor or main rotor blades intact.
US authorities stated that the helicopter lost control shortly after attempting to turn near the George Washington Bridge along the New Jersey coastline.
ABC News cited law enforcement sources confirming that the aircraft showed signs of mechanical failure moments before the impact. CNN also reported the flight lasted approximately 16 minutes before the fatal descent.
Emergency crews responded swiftly, but none of the six on board survived the crash. Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the tragic incident.
LND/BG
