Video shows seaplane after hard landing in New York City’s East River
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Eight people were rescued after a seaplane crash-landed in New York City’s East River Sunday afternoon, prompting a quick emergency response from firefighters after the plane crashed near the city’s only seaplane terminal, officials said.
The New York City Fire Department told Fox News Digital it received a call at 12:01 a.m. reporting a plane in the water near the NY Skyport on East 23rd Street and FDR Drive in Manhattan.
Fire crews found the seaplane upright in the water. FDNY units removed all eight people on board before the plane was towed to a nearby dock, the department said.
Two civilians suffered minor injuries but refused medical attention at the scene, according to the FDNY. No other injuries were immediately reported.
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On July 5, 2026, emergency crews responded after a seaplane made a hard landing in New York City’s East River near the NY Skyport. All eight people on board were rescued. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the plane as a Kodiak 100 seaplane and told Fox News Digital that the pilot made a hard landing in the East River around noon local time, causing the wing support to break.
According to The New York Times and CNN, the plane left East Hampton Airport on Long Island and headed for the Skyport seaplane terminal in Manhattan.
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On July 5, 2026, a seaplane that made a hard landing near Manhattan ended up in the East River. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
NY Skyport on Manhattan’s East Side is New York City’s only seaplane terminal offering scheduled and charter flights to destinations in the Northeast.
The FAA said there were eight people on board the plane, registered as N726SH. The agency stated that it was investigating the incident and that the information released on Sunday was preliminary and subject to change.
Air traffic control records recorded the moments surrounding the incident, including the pilot calling for help before the plane went down into the river. Separate radio traffic captured a New York City Police Department helicopter responding to reports of a “plane crashing into the water.”
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On July 5, 2026, firefighters and marine units responded to a seaplane crash in New York City’s East River near the NY Skyport. Officials said two people suffered minor injuries. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
Authorities did not identify the pilot or passengers, and it was not immediately clear what led to the hard landing.
Video from the scene showed first responders surrounding the plane as it floated upright in the East River as rescuers attempted to extricate those on board. Additional video shows the seaplane being pulled towards the pier after the rescue operation was completed.
The incident prompted a major emergency response along the East River waterfront as FDNY marine units and other first responders converged on the area.
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The FAA referred questions about the people on the ship to local authorities. Fox News Digital has reached out to the New York City Police Department for additional information.
