JUST IN: Helicopter Crashes, All Passengers Confirmed Dead

A sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City on Thursday afternoon, killing all six people aboard. The crash occurred around 3:17 p.m. near the Holland Tunnel ventilation shaft, close to River Drive South and Newport Parkway, near the Water’s Soul sculpture.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the victims included three adults and three children—a visiting family from Spain—and the pilot. Emergency responders from NYPD, FDNY, Port Authority, and New Jersey agencies rushed to the scene. Divers recovered all six victims, four of whom were pronounced dead on-site. The other two were taken to nearby hospitals but later succumbed to their injuries.

The helicopter, identified as a Bell 206 operated by tour company New York Helicopters, had departed from Lower Manhattan around 3 p.m. It was reportedly owned by Meridian Helicopters, a Louisiana-based company. After flying over Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty, it traveled up the Hudson along Manhattan’s West Side, turned near the George Washington Bridge, and began flying south along the Jersey side before crashing.

Witnesses described a loud noise followed by debris falling from the sky, and some reported seeing the helicopter’s parts separate in mid-air. Officials believe the aircraft struck the water upside down. Video footage showed flotation devices on the landing gear, but the fuselage and tail were not visible. CBS aviation reporter Dan Rice noted the helicopter’s main rotor and tail boom were missing, indicating a likely mechanical failure that caused the aircraft to lose control.

The FAA and NTSB have launched an investigation. The Coast Guard established a safety zone around the crash site, halting vessel traffic and impacting ferry service. Weather conditions at the time included overcast skies, 10 miles of visibility, and wind gusts up to 21 mph. The water temperature was around 50 degrees.

Mayor Adams expressed deep condolences, calling the crash a heartbreaking loss for a family that came to New York simply to admire its iconic skyline. Flight records show the helicopter had made several daily trips between regional airports and heliports in recent weeks.

This incident adds to a series of past crashes in the Hudson River area, including the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” in which all 155 aboard a US Airways flight survived after an emergency landing.