Seaplane makes hard landing in New York’s East River; no serious injuries reported
A seaplane carrying eight people made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday, prompting a quick response from emergency crews and raising questions about the cause of the incident.
According to the New York City Fire Department, responders removed all eight occupants from the aircraft shortly after the landing around 12:01 p.m. Two people suffered minor injuries but declined medical treatment at the scene, FDNY officials said.
The plane — a Kodiak 100 built last year, according to FAA records — came to rest upright in the water north of the Williamsburg Bridge. It was later towed to a nearby dock. The aircraft had departed East Hampton Airport on Long Island at 11:24 a.m., flight data shows.
Audio from ATC.com captured radio traffic as an NYPD helicopter arrived on scene. “Mayday, mayday, mayday,” a pilot from another aircraft reported. “Plane down in the water.” The helicopter crew later radioed that the pilot appeared to be okay and that two boats were already approaching the downed seaplane.
A structural failure may have contributed to the rough landing: The Federal Aviation Administration said a wing strut snapped during the incident. The FAA will investigate, and no immediate cause has been determined.
The incident underscores the risks of operating floatplanes in congested urban waterways, where fast currents, debris and traffic can complicate emergency landings. The East River, despite its name, is a tidal strait with strong currents that have challenged pilots for decades. While seaplane crashes in the area are rare, they have occurred — most notably the 2009 ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, a different waterway.
Records indicate the plane’s owner is not publicly listed. The Kodiak 100, made by Quest Aircraft, is known for its rugged utility and is commonly used for commuter flights and cargo service in remote areas.
This story has been updated with additional information.
A previous version of this story incorrectly attributed the source of the mayday call. It was issued by another pilot.
CNN’s Aaron Cooper and Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.
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