Six Fatalities in Helicopter Crash into Hudson River Near Manhattan
Footage shared on social media depicted the helicopter largely submerged and appearing upside down in the water.
On April 10, a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Manhattan, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board, according to authorities.
The event took place at 3:17 p.m. on Thursday, in the area of the West Side Highway and Spring Street on the west side of Manhattan, as reported by the New York Police Department.
Authorities confirmed that the Bell 206 helicopter was carrying six passengers—three adults and three children. Rescue teams retrieved all six bodies from the water.
“The investigation is ongoing, and our thoughts are with the families—we’re lifting them up in prayer,” Adams stated.
Footage posted on social media showed the helicopter predominantly under the water and upside down.
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Units were dispatched to the scene to perform rescue operations, as reported by the fire department. Videos captured rescue boats maneuvering around the aircraft.
The rescue vessels were located near the Manhattan waterfront, close to a lengthy maintenance pier that services one of the Holland Tunnel’s ventilation structures.
Adams mentioned that officials received several 911 calls reporting the helicopter crash into the Hudson River, prompting responses from various agencies, including the city police and fire departments, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The helicopter departed from the city’s downtown Skyport around 3 p.m. ET, carrying the pilot and a family visiting from Spain.
“We’re praying for the families, and we extend our gratitude to the rescuers for their bravery and commitment,” Adams remarked.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch informed reporters that police divers were in the river minutes after the first 911 calls, ultimately retrieving four individuals from the crash site. Fire department divers managed to recover the remaining two, but immediate life-saving attempts were unsuccessful.
“Four victims were declared dead at the scene, while two additional individuals were transported to nearby hospitals, where, unfortunately, both later passed away from their injuries,” Tisch explained, noting that names are currently withheld pending family notification.
She detailed that the helicopter was operated by the tour company New York Helicopters, initially flying south after leaving the downtown heliport, then turning north along the Manhattan waterfront of the Hudson River. It reached the George Washington Bridge at 3:08 p.m. ET before turning again to head south along the New Jersey shore.
Shortly thereafter, the aircraft lost control and impacted the water just a few feet off the coast of a park in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Officials suspect the helicopter entered the water inverted, with a cabin section visible above the surface upon the arrival of rescuers, Tisch added.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that three of the occupants were adults and three were children.
FDNY divers and firefighters on Manhattan dock after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson river, April 10, 2025. Oliver Mantyk/Epoch Times
In a statement to The Epoch Times, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crash and submersion of the Bell 206 helicopter in the Hudson River.
“The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board [NTSB] will investigate,” an FAA representative mentioned.
The NTSB will take the lead on the investigation and provide updates as needed, the FAA stated.
“@FDNY and @NYPDnews are aiding first responders closer to the New Jersey shore,” Adams added. “Please steer clear of the area near Pier 40 in Manhattan until further notice.”
The skies over Manhattan are frequently filled with helicopters and planes, including both recreational and commercial flights.
This area has seen multiple crashes over the years, including a 2009 collision between a plane and a tourist helicopter over the Hudson River that resulted in nine fatalities. In 2018, a charter helicopter offering “open door” flights crashed into the East River, leading to five deaths.
Earlier this year, seven people died after a medical transport plane crashed into a neighborhood in Philadelphia. This occurred just two days after a deadly midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet over the Potomac River, resulting in the deaths of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly spelled a street name related to the crash location. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
