Helicopter crashes in New York, no word on injuries

A helicopter has crashed into the Hudson River in New York City, police said.

Video footage from local media showed showed rescue boats surrounding the overturned helicopter, its skids bobbing in the water. Multiple media outlets reported that several people were pulled from the water. NBC and CBS both reported that four people were aboard.

Citing unnamed sources, NBC New York reported there were “multiple fatalities” from the crash, which happened in the river separating New York from New Jersey.

“Due to a helicopter crash in the Hudson River, in the vicinity of the West Side Highway and Spring Street, expect emergency vehicles and traffic delays in the surrounding areas,” the NYPD posted.

Helicopters are a common sight in New York City, ferrying tourists for photo tours above the Statue of Liberty and helping the wealthy public avoid traffic on the city’s congested streets. A local group called “Stop the Chop” has long advocated for restrictions on overflights, citing safety concerns.

Among recent helicopter crashes in the area, according to Stop the Chop, were the June 10, 2019, crash of a commuter helicopter that hit the Equitable Building in midtown, killing the pilot, and the May 15, 2019, crash of a commuter helicopter into the Hudson River near the West 30th St. Heliport; that pilot escaped to safety. And on March 11, 2018, a “flightseeing” helicopter crashed into the East River, killing five passengers.

“With over 30 NYC helicopter crashes since 1980 (many resulting in serious injuries and fatalities), the risk of bodily harm to residents and tourists by nonessential helicopters flying above our densely populated area is too great a danger to allow,” Stop the Chop argues.

The water temperature in the harbor is about 51 degrees.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Helicopter down in New York City’s Hudson River police confirm