A peaceful afternoon in New York City turned into a nightmare on Thursday when a tourist helicopter carrying a family from Spain crashed into the Hudson River.
Killing all six people on board including three young children.
The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, went down just after 3:15 p.m. near Hoboken, New Jersey.
Family of five
It had taken off minutes earlier from the Wall Street Heliport.
Officials said it made it as far as the George Washington Bridge before turning back south and plummeting into the water.
The pilot, 36, also lost his life. The family hailed from Barcelona, Spanish officials confirmed.
Eyewitnesses described chilling scenes. “It fell out of the sky like a rock,” said Dani Horbiak, who watched the crash unfold from her apartment window.
Horror show mid-air
“I heard what sounded like gunshots, then saw parts breaking off.”
Another witness said the rotor blade flew off mid-air. “It split in two before hitting the water,” he told reporters.
The chopper flipped upside-down before impact, landing in the freezing 50-degree water.
The aircraft, a Bell 206, was on its sixth flight of the day.
It had no tail rotor and appeared to be missing a main blade at the time of the crash, based on video footage shared online.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but tragically, all six on board were declared dead.
Authorities investigating the matter
Jersey City Medical Center tried everything to save them, according to Mayor Steven Fulop. “Our team fought hard,” he said.
President Donald Trump reacted to the incident, calling it “terrible” and the crash footage “horrendous.”
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a full investigation, with Jersey City Police taking the lead, since the crash happened closer to New Jersey.
