Helicopter crash in Hudson River kills all 6 aboard ...Middle East

Six people died when a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River Thursday afternoon, a person familiar with the situation told CBS News.

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. 

Emergency responders were gathering on both sides of the river. On the Manhattan side, the NYPD was mobilizing on the West Side Highway and Spring Street. New York City Mayor Eric Adams was on the scene. 

The 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. 

Flight path records show for at least the last week, the helicopter has traveled to and from airports and heliports in our area, with multiple flights per day. It often flies from one Manhattan heliport to another, or from JFK to Newark, or from those airports to heliports.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash. 

The water was about 50 degrees at the time of the crash. The skies were overcast with visibility of about 10 miles, and wind gusts of up to 21 miles per hour. 

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. 

"It honestly honestly like an engine came out. I looked outside my window. I saw a few people running towards the water, and some people were acting pretty normal. So I was like oh, it might not be anything. Then I started to hear all the sirens come outside," Jersey City resident Jenn Lynk said. 

"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. 

Video appeared to show flotation devices on the helicopter's landing gear in the water. The fuselage of the helicopter was not visible. The helicopter's tail was also not visible. 

"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 2019, a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River shortly after refueling. The pilot was the only person on board at the time and suffered minor injuries.

In 2016, a vintage plane went down during a celebration for the American Airpower Museum. The pilot was killed.

The most well-known crash was the "Miracle on the Hudson" in January 2009 when a plane struck birds shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport. Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger managed to land the plane on the river, saving the lives of 155 passengers and crew members.  

Check back soon for more information on this developing story. 

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