Eight people were swiftly rescued following a seaplane’s hard landing in New York City’s East River on a Sunday afternoon. The incident led to a rapid emergency response from local firefighters as the plane descended near the city’s sole seaplane terminal.
According to the New York City Fire Department, they received a report of a plane in the water at 12:01 p.m. The location was near NY Skyport at East 23rd Street and FDR Drive in Manhattan. Upon their arrival, the rescue teams found the seaplane upright. All eight individuals aboard were promptly evacuated, and the plane was later towed to a nearby dock.
The fire department stated two civilians sustained minor injuries, though they declined medical attention. No other injuries were immediately reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the aircraft as a Kodiak 100 seaplane. The organization confirmed the pilot executed a hard landing around noon, which resulted in a broken wing strut. The plane had departed from East Hampton Airport on Long Island, aiming for the Skyport terminal in Manhattan.
The FAA reported that the seaplane carried eight individuals and is registered under N726SH. The agency is actively investigating the event, with the released details being preliminary and subject to modifications.
During the incident, air traffic control recordings captured the pilot’s mayday call. Additionally, a New York City Police Department helicopter also responded to the report of a plane in the water.
Authorities haven’t disclosed the identities of those onboard, and the precise cause of the hard landing remains unknown. Footage from the site showed rescue teams surrounding the upright seaplane as they facilitated the evacuation. Another video depicted the plane being towed back post-rescue.
The event instigated a significant emergency response along the East River waterfront, involving FDNY marine units among other first responders.