A tragic helicopter crash in Jersey City, New Jersey, on Thursday has claimed the lives of six people. The helicopter, carrying tourists, crashed into the Hudson River around 3 p.m., according to reports from the New York Times.
Eyewitnesses and video footage revealed that the helicopter, believed to have been carrying six passengers, spiraled uncontrollably before plunging into the river at high speed.
Rescue teams managed to pull two adults and three children from the wreckage or the frigid waters of the river. The victims, identified as members of a family of Spanish tourists, were immediately transported to hospitals in Jersey City.
A sixth individual, believed to be the helicopter’s pilot, is still missing, and search operations are ongoing to locate the person.
Although the exact departure and destination points of the flight remain unclear, it is common for tourist helicopters to fly over the Hudson River, offering scenic tours to passengers from heliports in both Lower Manhattan and New Jersey.
The incident added to troubling series of aviation accidents in the United States this year, with more than 20 crashes reported since January, leading to over 110 fatalities.