1 of 3 | At least five died when a helicopter carrying a family of five from Spain and a pilot crashed into the Hudson River near New York City on Thursday afternoon. Photo by CBS News New York
April 10 (UPI) — At least five were killed when a tour helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near New York City on Thursday afternoon. Along with the pilot, the victims included a family of five from Spain.
The helicopter was carrying a pilot and five passengers, three of them children, when it crashed into the river at about 3:15 p.m. EDT, ABC News and the New York Post reported.
All six people have been recovered. One reportedly is alive and is undergoing treatment at a local hospital and is in an unknown condition, WNBC reported. However, some news sources say all six have died.
The five passengers are a family of tourists visiting from Spain, and the helicopter was airborne for about 12 minutes before crashing into the river.
“A Bell 206 helicopter crashed and is submerged in the Hudson River in New York City,” Federal Aviation Administration officials said in a post on X.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.
Local officials said the helicopter was part of a local tour charter company.
The New York Police Department said locals should expect traffic delays while near the crash site.
“Due to a helicopter crash in the Hudson River, in the vicinity of the West Side Highway and Spring Street, expect emergency vehicles and traffic delays in the surrounding area,” the NYPD said Thursday afternoon in a post on X.
The Coast Guard stopped vessel traffic and established a safety zone around the crash site.
A witness told ABC News she heard “five or six loud noises” and saw pieces falling from the helicopter before it crashed into the river.
Additional details are unknown but will be updated as they are announced.