All 6 Aboard Chopper That Crashed In NY's Hudson River Killed

The death toll of the Hudson River passenger crash has risen to six, including three children, in New York on Thursday. Five of the individuals were from Spain, while the sixth person was the pilot of the helicopter.

According to a CNN report, multiple 911 calls were made around 3:17 pm, which reported a helicopter crash near the New Jersey coastline at Pier A Park in Hoboken. The police pulled out four people from the water, and the New York Fire Department pulled out two people.

Of the six, four were declared dead at the scene, while two were rushed to local hospitals where they were declared dead.

The helicopter, operated by the tour company New York Helicopter Charter, is currently submerged in the river, as per the report.

Citing Federal Aviation Administration records, FlightRadar24 reported the aircraft to be a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV, based on ADS-B tracking data. The chopper was built in 2004 and had an airworthiness certificate issued in 2016 that was good until 2029.

The chopper took off at 2:59 pm from downtown Manhattan, flew south before turning into flying north along the Manhattan shoreline, up the Hudson River. It reached George Washington Bridge around 3:08 pm and then turned to fly south along the New Jersey shoreline, and shortly after, it lost control. The helicopter flew for about 16 minutes before going down into the water.

ALSO READ: Chopper Crashes Into Hudson River In New York, 1 Dead: Video

Pieces Fell Off The Chopper

Officials believe that the chopper was inverted when the helicopter hit the water, leaving the cabin visible in the water. According to CNN, the helicopter stopped mid-air, and pieces of it were falling off before it hit the water, which is consistent with the 911 calls. As per the report, the reason behind the crash is still under investigation.

When the helicopter crashed, it was cloudy, with winds around 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph, according to various weather reports in the area. Visibility at the surface was good — 10 miles — but it was cloudy as a system is moving into the region, bringing light rain to the region this afternoon and evening.

According to the BBC, the Bell 206 is commonly used by sightseeing companies, television news stations, and police departments.

This was one of the deadliest helicopter crashes in New York City since 2018, when a tourist helicopter crashed into the East River. All five passengers drowned, and only the pilot survived.

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