A sightseeing helicopter tour above New York City turned tragic when a Spanish tourist family and their pilot met a devastating end.
According to Daily Mail, all six people aboard a tour helicopter, including three children from Spain, died after their aircraft crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon near the New Jersey side of Lower Manhattan.
The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. when witnesses reported seeing the Bell 206L-4 helicopter "split in half" before plunging into the water. Emergency responders rushed to the scene near Pier 40, but rescue efforts proved futile as all passengers succumbed to their injuries.
Witness accounts reveal final moments of doomed flight
Multiple bystanders described hearing what sounded like a "sonic boom" before watching the helicopter's tragic descent. One witness reported seeing pieces of the aircraft flying off before it hit the water. Another observer noted the helicopter was "flying erratically" in its final moments.
Anna, who was walking her dog along the West Side Highway, recounted seeing emergency responders and lights across the river on the New Jersey side. The commotion drew attention from other pedestrians, with some initially mistaking the sound for an earthquake or building collapse.
Weather conditions at the time included cloudy skies with winds between 10 and 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. While visibility stretched to 10 miles, the approaching weather system brought light rain to the area that afternoon.
Details emerge about ill-fated tour operation
The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter company, took off from the Wall Street Heliport for what was meant to be a routine tourist excursion.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft maintained an altitude of about 1,000 feet as it circled the Statue of Liberty before heading north along the Hudson River toward the George Washington Bridge.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that four victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were transported to nearby hospitals, where they later died from their injuries. The Spanish Consulate of New York City is working with authorities as family notifications proceed.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop announced that local police would lead the investigation until National Transportation Safety Board officials arrive. The water temperature was approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit when the crash occurred.
History of helicopter incidents over New York waters
Since 1977, at least 32 people have lost their lives in helicopter crashes around New York City. The most recent previous incident happened in 2018 when five passengers drowned after their helicopter crashed in the East River due to the tail getting caught on a fuel shutoff lever.
Manhattan's airspace regularly accommodates both planes and helicopters conducting private recreational flights, commercial operations, and tourist excursions. Multiple helipads serve business executives and others traveling throughout the metropolitan area.
Mayor Eric Adams shared his condolences for the victims:
Our hearts go out to the families of those who were onboard. All six have been removed from the water, and sadly all six victims have been pronounced deceased.
Final outcome of tragic tourist excursion
A Spanish business executive, an adult relative, and their three children perished alongside the helicopter pilot when their sightseeing tour ended in catastrophe over the Hudson River. The aircraft operated for approximately 16 minutes before crashing into the frigid waters near Lower Manhattan.
The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct a thorough investigation to determine what caused the Bell 206L-4 helicopter to break apart mid-flight and crash, marking one of the deadliest aviation incidents in recent New York City history. As recovery efforts continue, officials focus on retrieving aircraft debris to piece together the sequence of events leading to this devastating loss of life.
