Additional Coverage:
- Horror as plane crashes into New York’s East River as emergency responders rush to scene (themirror.com)
A small plane made an emergency landing in New York City’s East River on Sunday afternoon, the New York Police Department confirmed.
Emergency personnel from the NYPD and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) were on the scene by 12:10 p.m. Sunday. While the cause of the incident remains under investigation, authorities reported that all 10 people on board were safely rescued.
Social media footage captured the sea plane resting in the river, with its left wing partially submerged, as emergency boats approached. A helicopter was also seen hovering above the crash site.
The plane had taken off from East Hampton Town, Long Island, at approximately 10:38 a.m., though its intended destination has not been disclosed. According to the FDNY, the aircraft made a hard landing just after noon near the marina at East 23rd Street and the FDR Drive in Manhattan.
Officials identified the plane as a Kodiak single-engine turboprop. The aircraft remained upright in the water and was being towed back to the dock. The FDNY reported that eight civilians were safely removed from the plane, while two others with minor injuries were being evaluated by emergency medical services.
East Hampton, known for its scenic beaches and as a popular summer retreat for affluent New Yorkers, was bustling over the holiday weekend. The Hamptons and New York City recently hosted high-profile events, including the lavish wedding of singer Taylor Swift and athlete Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
The NYPD, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the hard landing.
This incident is not the first plane crash in the East River this year. In June, a plane piloted by Queens restaurateur Joe Oppedisano made a water landing near the Throgs Neck Bridge in Whitestone, Queens.
Oppedisano was previously involved in a serious crash at the same location in 2020. Earlier this year, he garnered media attention for opening a shrine in Queens dedicated to Saint Pio, a figure revered by Italian-American Catholics.