1 week Ago By Mataeo Smith
First responders working to recover the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River in New York City, killing all six passengers, are at risk themselves due to the freezing conditions of the scene, AccuWeather experts said. The aerial crash occurred Thursday afternoon as the commercial chopper was carrying six Spanish tourists , including three children. Witness reports said the aircraft began flying uncontrollably before ultimately plummeting into the body of water near the New Jersey side.
According to law enforcement sources, the victims include the pilot, two adults, and three youngsters. At the time of the devastating accident, which occurred at 3:17 p.m.
ET, the skies were overcast but it wasn't raining. Now that rain has started to fall as rescue crews work to recover the wreckage from the Hudson, experts warn they themselves should be weary of a possibe deathly plunge into the water . “Weather at the time of the helicopter crash was cloudy.
It was not raining at the time of the crash. Emergency responders are now dealing with cold rain at the recovery site on the Hudson River,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Feerick said. “The air temperature was about 48 degrees with a southeast wind at 10 to 15 mph at the time of the crash.
The water temperature in the Hudson River is about 47 degrees.” For first responders on the water, AccuWeather specialist meteorologists warn of hypothermia and cold-water shock. “In these cold water temperatures, the human body’s core temperature quickly drops.
Exhaustion or unconsciousness can occur in as little as one hour,” AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecast Operations Dan DePodwin said. “First responders at the crash site are dealing with cold rain and AccuWeather Real Feel temperatures in the 30s.” Witness Bruce Wall said he saw the helicopter “falling apart” in midair, with the tail and propeller coming off.
The propeller was still spinning without the aircraft as it fell, he said. Lesly Camacho, a hostess at a restaurant along the river in Hoboken, New Jersey, said she saw the helicopter spinning uncontrollably before it slammed into the water. “There was a bunch of smoke coming out.
It was spinning pretty fast, and it landed in the water really hard,” she told the Associated Press. Video posted to social media showed parts of the chopper splashing into the water, and the overturned aircraft was submerged, with rescue boats circling it. Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories The skies were overcast at the time, but visibility over the river was not substantially impaired.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the helicopter as a Bell 206. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board planned to investigate. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.
The rescue craft were near the end of a long maintenance pier for a ventilation tower serving the Holland Tunnel on the New Jersey side of the river. Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles were on streets near the scene with their lights flashing..
