Fatal Helicopter Crash in the Hudson: Six Dead, Including Three Children

On Thursday, April 10, a Bell 206 helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Manhattan, New York City. On board were a Spanish tourist family and the pilot. The tragic accident claimed six lives, including three minors.

A Violent Crash, Swift Response

The emergency call came in at 3:17 p.m. According to New York firefighters, the aircraft plunged abruptly into the waters of the Hudson, a busy river that separates New York from neighboring New Jersey. Local news footage captured the dramatic impact, and one eyewitness reported that the helicopter appeared to lose its rotor before the fall.

Rescue teams, including divers, arrived within minutes. Four passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, while the other two were transported to Manhattan hospitals, where they sadly succumbed to their injuries.

A Risk-Prone Corridor, Ongoing Investigation

Mayor Eric Adams described the event as “tragic” and extended his condolences to the victims’ families. The NYPD advised residents and commuters to avoid the area, as emergency vehicles caused significant disruption.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened an investigation to determine the precise cause of the crash. Meanwhile, the incident has reignited concerns about the safety of sightseeing flights over New York. Every day, dozens of helicopters take off from heliports along Manhattan’s waterfront, offering tourists sweeping views of landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the city’s iconic skyline.

This is not the first fatal crash in the area. In 2018, a helicopter went down in the East River, killing five people. In 2009, a collision between a helicopter and a small plane claimed nine lives. One extraordinary incident, however, ended differently: the “Miracle on the Hudson,” also in 2009, when a commercial airliner made an emergency landing on the river and all 155 people on board survived.