This is the make of helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River: a history in both civilian and law enforcement

A Bell 206L-4 LongRanger helicopter - a popular model often used for sightseeing, corporate transport, and light utility work which you can see in action below – is believed to have been the type that crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon, reportedly leaving multiple people dead and emergency crews scrambling to pull any survivors from the water.

What happened with the helicopter?

The crash was reported shortly after 3 p.m. ET near the New Jersey side of the river, just off Manhattan’s west side. Social media videos showed the aircraft upside down, nearly submerged, as first responders rushed to the scene. Police helicopters circled overhead while fire department rescue teams converged near a pier close to the Holland Tunnel ventilation towers.

Initial reports indicate that six people may have died, according to sources who spoke with Nexstar’s WPIX and the Associated Press. Two adults and three children were said to have been pulled from the river, though their conditions remain unclear. Officials have not yet confirmed how many people were onboard at the time of the crash.

The Bell 206 series has a long history in both civilian and law enforcement aviation. This specific model – the LongRanger – is an extended version that can seat up to seven people. It’s commonly used for aerial tours over cities like New York, where the skies are often busy with both private and commercial flights.

Crashes like this aren’t unprecedented. In 2009, a sightseeing helicopter collided with a small plane over the Hudson, killing nine people. In 2018, a chartered “doors-off” flight ended in tragedy when it plunged into the East River, killing five.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of Thursday’s crash and the exact number of people involved. For now, attention is focused on rescue and recovery efforts in one of the most densely flown - and watched – airspaces in the country.

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