WASHINGTON (Agencies): The United States witnessed a series of aviation incidents on Thursday, including a helicopter crash in the Hudson River that claimed six lives, a small plane crash in South Georgia causing multiple injuries, and two American Airlines jets clipping wings at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington.
A sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River at around 3:17 pm near Jersey City’s Holland Tunnel ventilation shaft. All six passengers aboard were killed, including Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive from Spain who was touring New York City with his family, as confirmed by senior law enforcement officials. The Bell 206 helicopter had departed from lower Manhattan and crashed while returning south, data showed. Investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are underway.
Former President Donald Trump described the crash as “terrible” on Truth Social, offering condolences to the families and friends of the victims. Aviation expert Wang Yanan suggested that the crash might have been caused by a technical failure, possibly related to the helicopter’s power or transmission system.
In Georgia, a small plane crashed in Folkston, near the Florida border, around 4:15 pm, leaving multiple people injured. Among the six passengers were two children. Two men suffered serious injuries, and all passengers were taken to the hospital as a precaution, local authorities reported.
At Ronald Reagan National Airport, two American Airlines jets clipped wings on a taxiway. One plane, carrying six House members from New York and New Jersey, was stationary when its right winglet was hit by another regional jet heading to Charleston, South Carolina. Representative Grace Meng, who was onboard, expressed her disbelief, stating, “This has never happened to me in over 10 years of flying to Washington.”
Aviation experts attributed the collision to potential air traffic control oversight. The string of incidents has raised concerns about aviation safety and management in the United States, with investigations ongoing to determine the causes behind these accidents. Further updates are expected in the coming days.