Seaplane with Passengers Crashes in East River, FDNY Responds
Seaplane with passengers on board makes – A seaplane carrying passengers made a hard landing in the East River on Sunday, prompting an immediate response from the New York Fire Department (FDNY). The incident occurred near the East 23rd Street marina in Manhattan, with the aircraft coming down into the water shortly after 12:01 p.m. Officials confirmed the event, which involved a Kodiak 100 seaplane, and emphasized the need for further investigation into the cause.
Pilot and Passenger Accounts Highlight the Chaos
According to the pilot, the seaplane experienced a “hard landing” that resulted in a wing strut breaking. A wing strut is a critical component of the aircraft, designed to reinforce the connection between the wing and fuselage during flight. Passengers described the event as intense, with one 16-year-old survivor, Khloe Todd, recalling the plane’s unusual tilt and the violent shaking during its descent.
“I thought we weren’t going to make it,” Todd said. “The plane was already tilted. It was just insane.” She added that the aircraft glided across the river before hitting the water again, creating a chaotic scene as the plane executed a turn on the surface.
While the FDNY managed to rescue at least eight individuals from the seaplane, two were assessed for minor injuries. One passenger opted out of medical attention, as reported by the NYPD. Despite the incident, the seaplane was later found upright and was towed back to the dock for inspection.
FAA Investigation Underway Following the Incident
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. This includes analyzing the aircraft’s performance, pilot actions, and environmental conditions at the time of the hard landing. Officials stressed the importance of safety protocols in aerial transport, particularly for seaplanes operating in urban waterways.
Additional details about the crash are expected in the coming days, with the FAA planning to release a preliminary accident report. The report will outline factors such as weather, mechanical issues, or navigational errors that may have contributed to the incident. This is the second seaplane crash in the East River in recent weeks, raising concerns about the safety of such operations in the area.
Three weeks prior, another seaplane crash occurred near Whitestone, Queens, where the FDNY successfully rescued the pilot and a passenger. No injuries were reported in that event, but it highlighted the frequency of incidents in the East River. Experts suggest that the region’s busy water traffic and varying weather conditions could increase the risk of such accidents.
The FDNY’s rapid response in Sunday’s incident underscores the department’s preparedness for emergencies. While the seaplane with passengers on board managed to land safely, the event served as a reminder of the challenges faced by pilots operating in tight urban environments. Authorities are now reviewing safety procedures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
