Six Dead, Including Three Children, After Tourist Helicopter Crashes into Hudson River

Six people — including three children — were killed Thursday afternoon when a sightseeing helicopter carrying a Spanish family broke apart mid-air and crashed into the Hudson River, according to city officials.

The aircraft, a Bell 206 operated by New York Helicopter, reportedly “split in half” before spiraling into the water near Pier 40 in Manhattan around 3:15 p.m., the FDNY confirmed.

All five passengers and the pilot died in the crash, Mayor Eric Adams said during a press briefing at the scene. The victims included three children and two adults, as well as the pilot, whose identity has not yet been released.

Harrowing eyewitness footage showed the aircraft disintegrating mid-flight, its rotor detaching before the body of the chopper plummeted into the river. One witness described a “loud boom” followed by debris scattering across the water.

“I was walking home from work when I saw the helicopter coming down at a 45-degree angle,” said Eric Campoverde, 21, who was on the Hudson River Greenway. “It hit the water fast, and within seconds it was gone.”

The helicopter floated upside down briefly before submerging, leaving only fragments visible on the surface. Rescue crews from the NYPD Harbor Unit and FDNY deployed rapidly, pulling victims from the frigid water and transporting them to hospitals in New Jersey. All were later confirmed deceased.

New York Helicopter, the company behind the tour, markets itself as a premium provider of aerial sightseeing experiences over Manhattan. “I’m devastated,” said CEO Michael Roth in a statement to The NYPost.

Flight data shows the helicopter was airborne for approximately 15 minutes, traveling north along the Hudson River before turning around near the George Washington Bridge. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an inquiry into the incident, which is the latest in a series of recent aviation tragedies nationwide.

Governor Kathy Hochul extended condolences to the victims’ families and pledged state support in the ongoing recovery and investigation efforts.

Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area near West Side Highway and Spring Street due to traffic delays caused by the emergency response.

More information is expected to be released as the investigation progresses.