The incident happened at roughly 3:15 p.m. Thursday near the Holland Tunnel ventilation shaft in Jersey City, not far from River Drive South and Newport Parkway, near the Water's Soul sculpture.
Three adults and at least two children were on board, according to the NYPD. All of the bodies have been recovered, a person familiar with the situation told CBS News. City Hall sources identify the victims as a family from Spain. The pilot was also killed.
At least one person died in a helicopter crash in the Hudson River on April 10, 2025. Image obtained by CBS News New YorkThe helicopter involved was a Bell 206, according to the FAA. It took off from Lower Manhattan, according to the New York City's mayor's office. A source familiar with the investigation confirmed it was owned by a company called Meridian Helicopters out of Louisiana.
After takeoff, the helicopter apparently flew over Governor's Island and then near the Statue of Liberty before heading up the Hudson River along Manhattan's West Side before turning around just past the George Washington Bridge and flying back down along the Jersey side of the river before coming down near Jersey City.
Emergency responders on the scene of a deadly helicopter crash near Jersey City on April 10, 2025. CBS News New YorkThe FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.
Witnesses described helicopter parts coming apart in mid-air before plummeting down into the water. Debris could be seen flying from the helicopter as it plunged into the river.
"I heard, like, such a loud sound. It felt like thunder. And because it was raining today, it was just like, OK, maybe. And then I saw, like, black particles flying. Again, I thought maybe it's just like, dust, or birds, and then we heard all the emergency vehicles and sirens go by, and I think that's when it was like, OK, what's happening," Jersey City resident Ipsitaa Banigrhi said.
"Obviously, a catastrophic failure of the aircraft. That's very obvious. Booms and noises like that indicate some sort of mechanical issue," CBS News New York's Dan Rice said. Rice, who reports from Chopper 2, frequently flies in the same model helicopter.
Prior crashes on the Hudson River
In 2016, a vintage plane went down during a celebration for the American Airpower Museum. The pilot was killed.
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