A heartbreaking sightseeing tour ended in tragedy on Thursday afternoon when a helicopter carrying a family of five tourists and their pilot shattered midair before plunging into the Hudson River. All six people onboard, including three children, were killed in the devastating crash that has rocked both New York and New Jersey.
At approximately 3:15 p.m., the Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter lost control and crashed upside down into the river near Jersey City, shortly after departing from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. The aircraft, which had been en route for a picturesque aerial tour of iconic New York City landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and George Washington Bridge, was in the air for just 16 minutes before vanishing from radar.
The passengers, a family of Spanish tourists, had excitedly boarded the helicopter earlier that day to experience a bird’s-eye view of the Big Apple. Smiling photos from the tour company’s website showed the couple and their three young children moments before takeoff.
Eyewitness accounts described a terrifying scene in the sky. Several people reported hearing loud bangs—some likening them to gunshots—followed by a plume of black smoke and the sight of the helicopter spiraling toward the water. “It sounded like several gunshots in a row,” said Jersey City resident Dani Horbiak. “Then I saw it just fall apart and splash into the river.”
Lesly Camacho, who works at a Hoboken restaurant overlooking the Hudson, described the chopper’s final moments: “It was spinning with smoke trailing behind it before it hit the water.” Other witnesses, like Peter Park, reported seeing helicopter blades fly dangerously close to the shoreline, while Bruce Wall noted that the aircraft appeared to be disintegrating mid-flight—its tail and main rotor separating completely.
Disturbing footage circulating online shows the horrifying moment when key parts of the aircraft broke off in the sky, sending the fuselage crashing into the Hudson just off the coast of Jersey City.
Authorities confirmed all six lives were lost in the crash. Investigators are currently working to determine what caused the catastrophic failure, though early reports suggest a mechanical malfunction may be to blame.
This marks one of the most tragic aviation disasters in recent New York history, raising renewed concerns about the safety of tourist helicopter tours operating over densely populated urban areas.
