CNN REPORTS : At 3:17 p.m. a helicopter crashed in the Hudson River, New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. When first responders arrived, police pulled four people out of the water and FDNY pulled out two people, she said. Four victims were declared dead on scene while an additional two people were taken to local hospitals, where they were declared dead, Tisch said.
CNN: The helicopter, operated by the tour company New York Helicopter Charter, is currently 7submerged in the river . FlightRadar24 reported the aircraft to be a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV, based on ADS-B tracking data. It was built in 2004 and had an airworthiness certificate issued in 2016 that was good until 2029, according to Federal Aviation Administration records. There was no information immediately available on the pilot, according to Adams.
CNN: When the helicopter hit the water, officials believe it was inverted, leaving the cabin visible in the water, Tisch said. Reports that the helicopter stopped in mid-air and pieces of the helicopoter were falling off before it hit the water is consistent with 911 reports, she said. The cause of the crash is under investigation, she said. The helicopter flew for about 16 minutes before going down into the water, according to analysis byCNN and flight tracking site FlightRadar 24.
