Helicopter crashes in Hudson River near Manhattan in New York
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At least four people have died after a helicopter crash in New York’s Hudson River, according to three senior New Jersey and New York law enforcement officials.
At this stage, it is believed there were six people onboard, Sky’s US partner NBC News reports.
They included two adults, two children and a pilot, New Jersey State Police said.
The aircraft is thought to have been a tourist helicopter on a flight around Manhattan.
The New York Fire Department (FDNY) said it received a report of a helicopter in the water at 3.17pm local time (8.17pm UK time). It has units on the scene performing rescue operations, it added.
A man who saw the crash said “the chopper blade flew off”.
“I don’t know what happened to the tail, but it just straight up dropped,” Avi Rakesh told NBC News.
The crash took place in the river near the Holland tunnel, which links lower Manhattan’s Tribeca neighbourhood with Jersey City to its west.
The crash site is also close to Pier 40, a multiuse facility with sports fields, tourist party boats and a large car park.
The helicopter crashed in the water between Manhattan and New Jersey
First responders at long Pier 40, near the crash site. Pic: AP
New York’s Mayor Eric Adams posted on X: “The team is on the scene at the heartbreaking and tragic crash in the Hudson River.”
The public should stay away from the Pier 40 area “for the meantime,” he added.
New Jersey governor Phil Murphy said he has been briefed on the crash.
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