FIREFIGHTER II

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Fire boat involved in response to fatal helicopter crash in Hudson River

The 'Fire Fighter II' was mobilized by the US Coast Guard on April 10, 2025, which was coordinating with local, state and federal agencies the response to a helicopter crash in the Hudson River that occurred on the afternoon in New York City near the Holland Tunnel. The Coast Guard Sector New York command center watchstanders received a report at approximately 3:15 p.m. reporting the downed Bell 206L4 with the registration number N216MH, into the Hudson River in New York City. Response boat crews from Coast Guard stations New York, Sandy Hook and Kings Point, and the CG 'Bonito' were deployed to the incident. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued regarding the incident and a safety zone was established, securing all vessel traffic 1 mile north and one mile south of the Holland Tunnel across the entire Hudson River. At 6 p.m., the safety zone was reduced to 1,000 feet surrounding the Holland Tunnel ventilator and vessels may resume transiting the Hudson River slowly along the New York side with permission from on-scene assets. The Coast Guard was working with the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Transportation Safety Board to salvage the helicopter. The cause of the incident is under investigation. Six people were reported dead after the small helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Pier 40 . The victims included the three children of Agustin Escobar, a Spanish Siemens manager, and his wife. The aircraft was plummeting upside-down towards the water, its tail was missing and its rotor visibly separated and trailed behind. Six bodies were recovered from the wreckage, including the remains of the pilot. The aircraft had departed the downtown Manhattan heliport and was in the air for about 15 minutes before the crash. The aircraft is registered to a private helicopter sales and leasing company headquartered in Louisiana. The same helicopter appears in promotional materials for a New York-based flightseeing company. Video: https://twitter.com/i/status/1910424640595312989