Tragedy in the Hudson River just north of the Holland Tunnel this afternoon, as five members of a family from Spain, two adults and three children aged four, five and twelve, plus the 37-year old pilot, have died as a helicopter crashed into the choppy waters.
The crash happened at approximately 3:15 pm, with emergency first responders rushing to the scene on the New Jersey side of the river. The helicopter reportedly broke into two pieces and landed upside down in the river.
All six of the bodies have been recovered from the water.
The United States Coast Guard responded swiftly to the incident, halting vessel traffic and establishing a safety zone in the vicinity as operations continued.
As of this writing, it remains unclear where the helicopter originated from or its intended destination.