New York City authorities announced on Thursday that a tourist helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, prompting a massive response from emergency crews and marine police.
Initial information indicates that there were six people on board, including five passengers and the pilot.
Local media outlets, including ABC, reported reports of fatalities, while CNN reported that at least three people were rescued.
ABC said that all passengers on board, including tourists from Spain with there three children were killed.
Agustin Escobar, president and CEO of Siemens in Spain and his family identified as victims in deadly Hudson helicopter crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the Bell 206 helicopter crashed and sank in the river. The number of people on board and their condition remain unknown.
According to an official statement, the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration. Media reports indicated that the helicopter flew over an island and then approached the Statue of Liberty before crashing into the water.
A source familiar with the matter indicated that it was the helicopter's third flight of the day.
A New York Police Department spokesperson said that police marine patrols are participating in rescue efforts on the Hudson River, explaining that detailed information regarding the helicopter's passengers is still unavailable.
Efforts are currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the fate of those on board.
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