A New York City sightseeing helicopter crashes into the Hudson River leaving six dead

NEW YORK, N.Y. – A Spanish family of five aboard a New York City sightseeing helicopter on Thursday died, along with the pilot, as the helicopter crashed upside down in the Hudson River.

The single-engine Bell 206 helicopter was managed by the New York Helicopter sightseeing company.

The helicopter tour crashed in Jersey City, New Jersey, at around 3:15 p.m. and the flight lasted less than 18 minutes.

Parts of the helicopter broke off before the crash, as seen in a witness video. The tail and main rotor detached from the aircraft and the main rotor was still spinning as it fell.

The weather on Thursday contained cloudy skies with a southeast wind at 10 to 15 mph.

Rescue boats arrived at the scene within minutes and the helicopter was hoisted out of the water around 8 p.m.

Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene and two died at the hospital.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sent his condolences through a statement saying, “I sympathize with the victims’ loved ones at this heartbreaking time.”

President Donald Trump also sent condolences to the families on Truth Social, “God bless the family and friends of the victims.”

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

Natalee Bravo is a first-year student majoring in digital & print journalism. To contact her, email nbb5612@psu.edu.