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Sightseeing helicopter plummets into Hudson River in NYC, kills 6

Sightseeing helicopter plummets into Hudson River in NYC, kills 6

Featured, USA3 months ago8 Views

NEW YORK ‒ A Spanish household of 5 on an aerial sightseeing tour of New York Metropolis died together with their pilot when their helicopter crashed the other way up into the Hudson River.

New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams mentioned the single-engine Bell 206 helicopter operated by sightseeing firm New York Helicopter crashed into the river separating Manhattan from New Jersey shortly after 3:15 p.m. on April 10.

Adams mentioned the victims have been 5 members of a Spanish household — two adults and three kids — and the pilot. Divers helped take away the victims from the water. 4 have been pronounced useless on the scene, whereas two others have been taken to space hospitals the place they died, officers mentioned.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board will examine, with the NTSB main the investigation.

In a message on Fact Social, President Donald Trump supplied his condolences to the households and buddies of the victims, including that Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and his employees have been investigating the crash.

“Bulletins as to precisely what happened, and the way, shall be made shortly!” Trump added.

Reviews: Siemens govt, household among the many victims

In keeping with The New York Instances and ABC Information, a tech firm govt and his household have been killed within the helicopter crash.

Agustin Escobar, an govt with Siemens, his spouse, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three kids, aged 4, 5, and 11 years outdated, all died together with the pilot, 36, ABC Information reported, citing regulation enforcement sources.

USA TODAY reached out to Siemens for remark.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez launched a press release and referred to as the crash an “unimaginable tragedy.”

“5 Spaniards from the identical household, three of them kids, and the pilot have misplaced their lives,” Sanchez mentioned on X. “I sympathize with the victims’ family members at this heartbreaking time.”

Authorities: Helicopter appeared to have hit the water ‘inverted’

Authorities mentioned the reason for the crash is below investigation, however that the helicopter appeared to have hit the water “inverted.” The black-and-gold helicopter’s silver skids, stored afloat by airbags, caught out of the water as rescue officers swarmed the crash web site.

“I used to be strolling by and the helicopter went down at a 45-degree angle,” witness Eric Campoverde instructed ABC Information. “Massive splash ‒ it was very scary.”

Helicopter excursions are a well-liked solution to see New York Metropolis landmarks just like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Constructing, and Wall Avenue. Officers described a flight path mirroring the trail of the corporate’s excursions, which price about $274 per individual.

AccuWeather mentioned the skies have been cloudy with a southeast wind at 10 to fifteen mph on the time of the crash.

Hours afterward, dozens of FDNY and NYPD automobiles remained staged within the space as at the very least two drones flew above the Hudson as drizzle fell. Regardless of the rain, visibility throughout the river was clear throughout to New Jersey and south to Staten Island.

Newest helicopter crash within the space

Flight data printed by aviation monitoring service FlightRadar24 confirmed the helicopter took off from decrease Manhattan at 3 p.m. earlier than circling briefly close to the Statue of Liberty, then flew north at about 1,000 ft above the Hudson River, looping previous the George Washington Bridge and heading again towards Manhattan.

Helicopter security has been a subject of debate in Congress after 67 individuals have been killed in a crash between an American Airways regional jet and an Military helicopter on Jan. 29 close to Reagan Nationwide Airport. The FAA has since completely restricted helicopter site visitors close to the airport and is reviewing helicopter operations close to different main airports.

Amongst current helicopter crashes within the space, in response to Cease the Chop, have been the June 10, 2019, crash of a commuter helicopter that hit the Equitable Constructing in midtown, killing the pilot, and the Could 15, 2019, crash of a commuter helicopter into the Hudson River close to the West thirtieth St. Heliport; that pilot escaped to security. And on March 11, 2018, a “flightseeing” helicopter crashed into the East River, killing 5 passengers.

“With over 30 NYC helicopter crashes since 1980 (many leading to critical accidents and fatalities), the danger of bodily hurt to residents and vacationers by nonessential helicopters flying above our densely populated space is simply too nice a hazard to permit,” Cease the Chop argues.

New York’s federal lawmakers shortly thanked first responders as emergency efforts continued. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand shared in a publish on X that she was “praying for all these concerned on this tragic incident.”

Rep. Dan Goldman, whose district contains decrease Manhattan, shared on X: “My coronary heart is with all these affected by the helicopter crash within the Hudson River, particularly the victims and their households throughout this tough time.”

(This story was up to date so as to add new info.)

Contributing: Charles A. Ventura, USA TODAY; Reuters