Hudson River helicopter crash kills 6 | Live updates

A tragic incident occurred when a tourist helicopter broke apart midair and crashed into the Hudson River, resulting in the deaths of a family of five from Spain who were visiting New York City, along with the pilot. Authorities, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD officials, are currently addressing the media regarding the incident. The Fire Department was alerted to the helicopter in the water at 3:17 p.m. Reports indicate that the passengers on board included a pilot, two adults, and three children visiting from Spain. Despite rescue efforts seeming to have concluded as of 5:15 p.m., officials are now focused on recovering parts of the helicopter from the river. Eye-witnesses observed the distressing sight of the helicopter disintegrating in midair, with the propeller and tail coming apart. The helicopter was seen submerged upside-down in the water. Ongoing rescue operations are active in both Lower Manhattan and Jersey City. Safety experts are concerned about the accident, particularly noting that the helicopter model, a Bell 206 L-4, is capable of carrying up to seven individuals. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be leading the investigation into the crash, with updates forthcoming. While the exact cause of the crash is not immediately clear, it is noted that the weather conditions were windy at the time. The Hudson River region has experienced previous tragedies, such as a 2009 midair collision and a 2018 charter helicopter crash. Stay tuned for additional developments on this ongoing breaking news story.