All eight passengers were rescued, while two people sustained minor injuries
A seaplane carrying eight people made an emergency landing in the East River in New York City on Sunday, launching a large-scale rescue operation that ended with everyone on board being transported to safety.According to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), emergency crews responded shortly after 12 noon (local time) after receiving reports of a seaplane in the water north of the Williamsburg Bridge.All eight passengers were rescued, while two people suffered minor injuries and were evaluated by emergency medical personnel, the New York Post reported.
The plane partially flipped over after a difficult landing
Video from the scene showed the plane floating in the river with one of its wings submerged while rescue crews surrounded it.The plane partially flipped over after making a hard landing in choppy waters near the Manhattan Ferry and Skyport terminal at East 23rd Street and FDR Drive. After the passengers were rescued, the plane was placed in the water and towed to the pier.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the hard landing caused the plane’s wing strut to break off.
The pilot issues a mayday call
The audio was released by ATC. Com captured the unfolding emergency. According to ABC News, the pilot issued a Mayday distress call before landing on the river.
Another pilot said over the radio: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. The plane is falling into the water.”An NYPD helicopter that responded to the accident later informed air traffic controllers: “The pilot appears to be OK.”
Passersby rush to help
Recreational boater Dan Tice and his wife were among the first to board the plane before police rescue boats arrived, the New York Post reported.“We were the closest ship next to the plane, and we went right over it,” Tess said.He recalled seeing the plane abort one landing attempt before trying again in the opposite direction.“The first thing that came to mind was, how can we help?” He added that the pilot accepted life jackets before New York Police officers took over the rescue operation.Tess described river conditions as “fairly rough” and the trip through the harbor as “quite bouncy”.Flight records show that the Kodiak 100 seaplane departed East Hampton Airport at 11:24 a.m. (local time).The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the accident.The accident comes less than a month after another seaplane requested rescue in the East River after it was struck by a wave while taking off near the Throgs Neck Bridge.