- A helicopter crashed into New York City’s Hudson River on Thursday.
- A New York Police Department spokesperson told Business Insider an investigation is underway.
- Recent airline crashes have increased awareness of aviation safety, but the incident appears unrelated for now.
A helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Manhattan in New York City on Thursday afternoon, police said.
An NYPD spokesperson told Business Insider that authorities responded to initial calls about the crash at 3:17 p.m. local time. No additional information regarding injuries, the type of aircraft, or the cause of the crash is yet available.
Calls to the helicopter’s registered owner, a Louisiana firm, were unanswered.
A recent spate of plane crashes has heightened awareness of aviation safety, but Thursday’s incident appears to have no relation to the airline crashes for now.
FlightRadar24
It’s not the first time a helicopter has crashed into the rivers near New York City. In 2018, five people died after a helicopter made an emergency landing in the East River and flipped upside down, trapping the passengers inside.
And in 2019, a helicopter crash-landed on the roof of a skyscraper, killing the pilot.
The Hudson River sees heavy helicopter traffic between area airports and tourist flights over sights like the Statue of Liberty. Pilots are required to use corridors and specific flight rules designated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
