Local News

A helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York on Thursday, killing all six people aboard, including the pilot and a family with three children who are believed to be Spanish tourists.

The fire department said it received a report of a helicopter in the huge tidal waterway that runs up the west side of Manhattan at 3.17pm ET. Videos posted on social media showed the aircraft mostly submerged, upside down in the water, and rescue vehicles crowding on to the streets on shore as emergency workers raced to save those onboard.

At the scene of the crash, the emergency response boats could be seen circling in the water. A crane could also be seen on a floating platform in the river, presumably trying to raise the sunken helicopter. Meanwhile on shore, fire and police personnel stopped the public and press from reaching the end of a long concrete pier on the river from downtown Manhattan, as scuba teams emerged from the water. A New York fire department boat responds to the crash on Thursday.