6 dead, including 3 children, after helicopter plummets into Hudson River
Six people, including a pilot and family of five, were killed after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Thursday afternoon.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed a Bell 206 helicopter crashed and remains submerged in the Hudson River.
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While the FAA said the number of people on board “is unknown at this time,” an Associated Press (AP) source confirmed six people died in the crash.
“The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate,” according to a statement from the FAA. “The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates.”
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has divers in the water and theNew York City Police Department (NYPD) Harbor Unit is searching as well, according to the New York City Mayor’s Office.
According to FOX Weather, the water temperature in the Hudson River is in the mid 40’s.
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There were no known weather conditions that might have caused the crash.
The crash site is less than a mile from Manhattan and is close to the Holland Tunnel, where 15.8 million vehicles cross annually from New Jersey into New York City.
A safety zone is in place one mile north and one mile south of the Holland Tunnel across the entire Hudson River, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Ferry service will be impacted on the river north of Jersey City.
“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 areas,” according to a statement from the NYPD.
The three Coast Guard boats are from Station Kings Point, Station New York and Station Sandy Hook.
The City of Hoboken Fire Department’s Marine 1 is on the scene.
The Hoboken Fire Department in New Jersey is assisting along with the Jersey City Police Department, Jersey City Fire Department, NYPD, FDNY, and New Jersey State Police.
Hoboken Police Department is on the waterfront to assist as needed.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams called crash “heartbreaking and tragic” in a post on X.
“@FDNY and @NYPDnews are assisting first responders closer to the New Jersey side of the river,” Adams wrote in the post. “Please avoid the area near Pier 40 in Manhattan in the meantime.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a post on X he was briefed by law enforcement on “the tragic helicopter crash in the Hudson River close to New Jersey.”
“We are supporting the emergency response effort through the @NJSP, @PANYNJ, and local first responders,” Gov. Murphy wrote in the post.
NYPD officials told Fox News Digital they are not able to provide further details at this time.
Prior to the Hudson River crash on Thursday, the NTSB reported 211 helicopter accidents in the past two years, 37 of which were fatal.
Since 1965, 36 crashes have occurred in nearby New York City, 11 of which were fatal.
In 2019, two helicopters crashed in New York City.
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One of the helicopters hit the roof of a Manhattan skyscraper in restricted airspace, killing the pilot, according to a report from the AP.
The other helicopter went into the Hudson River and sank while being maneuvered at a heliport, but the pilot escaped.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.