Six killed as helicopter crashes into Hudson River near lower Manhattan

A New York City Police spokesperson said that police boats were assisting in the rescue efforts on the Hudson.

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All six people aboard a helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River near Lower Manhattan on Thursday afternoon have been confirmed dead, according to law enforcement sources.

The victims included the pilot, two adults, and three children — all of whom were tourists from Spain, sources told ABC News. The aircraft went down just off the Manhattan shoreline, prompting an urgent rescue response from New York City emergency services.

The New York City Police Department confirmed the crash occurred just off the Manhattan shoreline. The helicopter was reportedly submerged and flipped upside down in the river when rescue teams arrived.

Dramatic videos posted on social media captured the aftermath, showing the partially submerged aircraft surrounded by rescue boats. FDNY confirmed that emergency units were actively conducting rescue operations at the scene.

The skies over Manhattan are frequently busy with helicopter and plane traffic, servicing both business commuters and tourists. Several helipads around the city serve as launch points for flights across the metropolitan area.

This latest tragedy adds to a troubling history of helicopter-related accidents in New York City.

In 2009, a collision between a small plane and a tourist helicopter over the Hudson River killed nine people. In 2018, a charter helicopter offering “open door” sightseeing tours crashed into the East River, resulting in five fatalities.