New York City, April 10, 2025, 1:32 PM PDT – A helicopter has crash-landed into the Hudson River just off Lower Manhattan this afternoon, sparking a swift response from emergency services and leaving witnesses in shock. The incident occurred shortly after 3:00 PM EDT (12:00 PM PDT), near the West Side Highway and Spring Street, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Eyewitnesses reported hearing a series of loud noises—described by some as sounding like gunshots—before seeing the helicopter plummet into the river. “I heard five or six bangs, and then I saw it just drop out of the sky,” said Dani Horbiack, a local resident who watched the event unfold from her apartment window. “Pieces were falling off as it went down—it was terrifying.” Another witness, Eric Campoverde, described the helicopter descending at a steep 45-degree angle before hitting the water with a “big splash.”

The NYPD confirmed the crash via social media at 12:37 PM PDT, warning of expected traffic delays and the presence of emergency vehicles in the area. The New York Fire Department (FDNY) received the initial report at 3:17 PM EDT and immediately deployed units to the scene for rescue operations. Video footage circulating online shows the helicopter upside down and partially submerged in the 50-degree waters of the Hudson, with rescue boats circling the wreckage.

Preliminary reports indicate the helicopter was carrying six people, including a pilot, two adults, and three children—believed to be a family of tourists from Spain. Law enforcement sources told ABC News that at least three fatalities have been confirmed as of 4:15 PM EDT, with rescuers pulling four individuals from the water in unknown condition. One person remains unaccounted for, and search efforts are ongoing. The helicopter reportedly broke apart midair before crashing, though the cause remains unclear.

First responders, including NYPD scuba divers, FDNY fireboats, and vessels from New York Waterway and the New York Ferry systems, are working in tandem to recover survivors and investigate the wreckage. The helicopter was closer to the New Jersey side of the Hudson when it went down, near a maintenance pier for the Holland Tunnel ventilation tower. Cold temperatures, murky water, and strong currents are complicating rescue efforts.

This marks yet another aviation incident in the Hudson River, recalling the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger safely landed US Airways Flight 1549, saving all 155 aboard. However, today’s crash appears far more catastrophic. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is en route to the scene to lead the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

As emergency operations continue, authorities are urging the public to avoid the area. The incident has sent shockwaves through the city, with social media buzzing about the dramatic footage and eyewitness accounts. Further updates are expected as the situation develops.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for the latest updates.