All six people on a tour helicopter with a family from Spain – including three children – onboard have been killed in a horrific helicopter crash into New York City‘s Hudson river.
The terrifying crash took place at around 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, closer to the New Jersey side of the Hudson River just off the tip of Lower Manhattan.
Officials said the victims include a business executive from Spain, an adult relative, three children and the pilot.
Witnesses said they saw the chopper ‘split in half’ before it went down near Pier 40, with one man reporting the stricken aircraft making what sounded like a ‘sonic boom.’
The aircraft was operated by New York Helicopter, a local tour company. The chopper appeared to be a N216MH – a Bell 206L-4, according to Flight Radar.
The helicopter flew for approximately 16 minutes before going down into the water. It took off from the Wall Street Heliport and did a circle near the Statue of Liberty before flying up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge at about 1000 feet.
It is also too early to say what may have caused the crash. Dramatic video showed the helicopter sinking into the water as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
As of 5:15 p.m., rescue efforts appeared to have concluded, and officials are focused on recovering parts of the aircraft, reported Fox 5.
A helicopter with a Spanish family of two adults and three children is seen crashing into New York City’s Hudson river Thursday afternoon. The entire family as well as a pilot all died
A helicopter crashed into New York’s Hudson River with a child inside Thursday afternoon
The bottom of the helicopter is seen floating upside down in the frigid waters of the Hudson after Thursday’s crash
