Local News
Video Captures Harrowing Moments of Helicopter Crash into Hudson River Near Pier 40 in Manhattan
Six people have died in a helicopter crash in the Hudson River in New York City.
A devastating helicopter crash in the Hudson River near Pier 40 in Manhattan claimed the lives of six people on Thursday afternoon, law enforcement officials confirmed.
The victims included the pilot, two adults, and three children, all of whom were reportedly tourists visiting from Spain.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) and Fire Department of New York (FDNY) responded to emergency calls around 3:00 p.m. ET, following reports of a helicopter crash off the Manhattan shoreline.
The incident was designated under FDNY Box 0352, with units from Marine 1 reporting that the aircraft was found inverted and submerged in the river, and three individuals were initially removed in traumatic cardiac arrest.
Dramatic video footage posted to social media captured the harrowing moment the aircraft impacted the water.
The helicopter, later identified as carrying six occupants, came to rest upside down, with its tail visible above the surface as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
Rescue operations were conducted near a maintenance pier connected to the Holland Tunnel ventilation system, where marine units and divers worked to retrieve victims from the wreckage.
The FDNY confirmed the deaths of all six individuals by early evening.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims pending notification of next of kin, but sources familiar with the investigation say the family had recently arrived in New York on vacation.
In a statement, the NYPD warned of heavy emergency response and potential traffic disruptions in the area surrounding Pier 40. โExpect emergency vehicles and delays,โ the department said in a public alert on X (formerly Twitter).
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are now leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.
Investigators will analyze weather conditions, flight path data, maintenance logs, and cockpit communications to determine what led to the fatal incident.
The skies over New York City are regularly traversed by commercial, private, and tour helicopters, especially in lower Manhattan, where multiple helipads cater to tourists and business travelers alike. Thursdayโs crash adds to a history of aviation tragedies in the region.
Notably, in 2009, a mid-air collision over the Hudson River between a small plane and a sightseeing helicopter resulted in nine fatalities, while in 2018, five people died when a charter helicopter offering โdoors-offโ aerial photography tours plunged into the East River.
As the investigation continues, officials are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash or captured additional footage to contact authorities.
Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the cityโs historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vesselโs emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. โ Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucesterโs historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucesterโthe nationโs oldest working fishing portโactivated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. โShe put her heart and soul into this opportunity,โ family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucesterโs close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vesselโs owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. โI hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,โ she said. โThis is heartbreaking.โ
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucesterโs deep fishing heritage. โGloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,โ Tarr said. โIt appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.โ
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was โheartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,โ adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victimsโ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: โThe salt has been in our blood for generationsโฆ A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.โ
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series NorโEaster Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New Englandโs commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victimsโ families and Gloucesterโs fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.