Six people were killed after a helicopter plunged into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon. Reports state that there are no survivors, and among the deceased is a visiting family of Spanish tourists. Footage of the horrifying crash has been circulating social media, adding to the horrifying series of aircraft crashes.
The tragic incident occurred at around 3:15 p.m. Eyewitnesses reported that the helicopter broke apart mid-air before crashing into the river upside-down, according to a report. In the footage, pieces of the chopper can be seen scattered in the air as the aircraft plummeted into the water.
Emergency responders from the New York City Police Department, the New York City Fire Department, and the Coast Guard rushed to the scene following the crash, per reports. New York City Mayor Eric Adams later confirmed the devastating details in a press conference, revealing that three children were among the dead and all six victims were recovered from the water.
According to reports, investigators have yet to publicly identify the victims. The helicopter crash has sparked a wave of emotions and concerns on social media. There is an outpouring of condolences from social media users. Additionally, many concerned users have questioned the safety of air travel, given the string of incidents involving air transportation.
One user said, “I haven’t trusted helicopters since Kobe and Gigi passed. This just reopens the wounds.”
Many commenters also expressed sympathy for the victims’ families. “Those poor babies,” one said. “Prayers for everyone involved.”
Others criticised the industry’s safety measures, urging that helicopters be fitted with parachutes or better emergency protocols. “Ngl they need to start adding the harness , backpack or whatever they call to all these flights so the parachutes can save people lives,” another commenter said.
Still, the pain was palpable in the voices of journalists and citizens alike, as several social media users pointed out a journalist covering the story. “Lord you can hear the pain in the reporters voice on the second video idk how she can do that job as an empath I wouldn’t be NO MORE GOOD ,” a viewer noted.
