Saturday, August 08, 2009

Small Plane, Helicopter Collide Over Hudson

A small plane and helicopter have collided over the Hudson River, killing at least one.
A helicopter touring lower Manhattan collided with a small plane over the Hudson River shortly before noon today, sending debris across the river and perhaps onto the streets of a New Jersey town and killing at least one person, police said.

The helicopter operated by Liberty Tours was carrying six people, multiple police and emergency reports indicated. It was not immediately clear how many people were aboard the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter hit the fixed-wing aircraft near New York's Pier 57.

At least one victim from the crash was taken to New York City and pronounced dead, according to initial reports.

Police have set up a security cordon both north and south of the crash site, located just south of 14th Street near Pier 54. Divers and vessels were attempting to rescue occupants.

"Paramedics bringing someone from the plane/helicopter crash onshore at Pier 40. Cop cars/fire trucks everywhere," one tweeter reported on Twitter, quoting the user "mikomercer."

Both aircraft were reported submerged in the river. Eyewitnesses to the crash reported the helicopter rotors separated from its body.
More here.

Update: It appears nine people are dead.

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