At 5:45pm, news broke that six people have died in the crash, at least two adults and three children. Five are believed to be members of a family of tourists, and the sixth person is believed to be the pilot.
“Six innocent souls have lost their lives, and we pray for them and their families,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement.
Upon the news breaking around 4pm ET, a Federal Aviation Administration representative released a statement saying, “A Bell 206 helicopter crashed and is submerged in the Hudson River in New York City. The number of people on board is unknown at this time. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation and provide any updates.”
Areas to avoid: road closures, ferry routes, and more
The accident took place closer to the Jersey City than Manhattan, but those downtown should expect traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions, and emergency personnel near the area of West Houston Street and the Hudson River.
Additionally, the NYC Ferry service has been adjusted as a result of the search that is currently underway.
In a statement on social media, the NYC Ferry said, “Due to US Coast Guard activity in the Hudson River, service to the Midtown West/West 39th Street landing is temporarily suspended. As a result, ferries on the St. George route will skip the Midtown West/West 39th Street landing.
Commuters should visit the NYC Ferry website for up-to-date information about their route.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
Danielle Valente - Editor, Secret NYC