A seaplane carrying eight people has crashed into New York’s East River after a “hard landing” snapped a wing strut, tilting the aircraft into the water and sparking a dramatic rescue operation. Fire department units removed the pilot and seven other adults from the Kodiak 100 seaplane shortly after noon local time on Sunday, after the aircraft went down off the marina at East 23rd Street and FDR Drive in Manhattan. Two civilians suffered minor injuries but refused medical attention, according to the New York Fire Department, though a police spokesperson said only one person was hurt. The plane remained upright in the water and was towed back to the dock.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident, said the pilot “made a hard landing” — a touchdown with excessive vertical speed — causing the wing strut to snap. The FAA added that air traffic control “was not providing services to the aircraft” at the time of the crash. According to the New York Times, the plane had departed from East Hampton, a wealthy seaside enclave, and was heading to the seaplane base Skyport when it struck a wave during landing, leading to a partial capsize.
“Eight rescued from Kodiak 100 seaplane after hard landing in Manhattan's East River snaps wing strut.”
A New York Police Department helicopter first alerted authorities. “Mayday, mayday, mayday. Plane down in the water,” the helicopter pilot said in air traffic control audio reviewed by CNN. “It looks like the pilot is OK,” he added.
Witness Marcus Hurlburt told the New York Times he saw at least three people climb onto one of the plane’s floats. “The pilot did a great job on making sure it didn’t turn over,” Hurlburt said. “He pulled a Sully on that one.” He was comparing the pilot to Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, who famously landed a US Airways jet in the Hudson River in 2009, saving all on board.
The incident comes just weeks after another seaplane drama on the same river. On 13 June, a small two-seater aircraft was struck by a large wave as it attempted to take off near Queens, according to CBS News. The FDNY rescued the pilot and a passenger onto a boat, and no one was seriously hurt.