A devastating helicopter crash claimed the lives of six people on Tuesday after the aircraft plunged into the Hudson River near Manhattan, New York.
According to ABC News, all six passengers on board—including the pilot, two adults, and three children—were killed. The victims were tourists visiting from Spain.
The helicopter, identified as a Bell 206, had been flying over Manhattan for about 15 minutes before it suddenly went down.
Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene. Dani Horbiack, who witnessed the crash from her apartment, told ABC News:
“I heard five or six loud bangs that sounded like gunshots, then saw pieces falling and the helicopter crashing into the river.”
Another witness, Eric Campoverde, recalled seeing the aircraft dive steeply.
“It came down at a sharp 45-degree angle. There was a huge splash—it was very scary.”
A bystander speaking to WABC said the crash sounded “like a sonic boom,” noting that the helicopter appeared to break apart mid-air.
“The rotor came off, and it split in two before hitting the water.”
The incident happened closer to the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. First responders found the helicopter submerged and upside-down in the river’s frigid 50-degree waters.
ABC News reports that the fatal crash occurred during the aircraft’s sixth tour flight of the day.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are currently investigating the cause of the crash.
