Emergency crews rushed to New York City’s East River after a seaplane made a hard landing near Manhattan, leaving the aircraft tilted in the water and prompting a quick rescue operation.
The aircraft was identified as a Kodiak 100 seaplane. According to The Independent, the plane made a hard landing shortly after noon on Sunday and tilted into the water. Eight adults were rescued from the aircraft, including the pilot.
The incident happened near the East River seaplane area around East 23rd Street and FDR Drive, close to the Manhattan Skyport. ABC7 New York reported that the landing occurred around 12:01 p.m., and FDNY responders removed everyone from the aircraft.
Early reports offered slightly different injury totals. Police said one person suffered minor injuries, while fire officials said two civilians had minor injuries. The Associated Press also reported that two people had minor injuries and that the plane was later towed back to a dock.
The FAA said the hard landing caused a wing strut to snap, and the agency is investigating the incident. Other reports said the aircraft had departed from East Hampton before the rough landing in the East River.
Despite the frightening scene, all eight people aboard survived. Video and photos from the area showed the seaplane upright but leaning to one side, with part of a wing or float near the water as emergency boats surrounded it.
The East River is a busy waterway used by ferries, private boats, emergency vessels, and seaplanes. A hard landing in this area can quickly become dangerous because of water traffic, currents, and limited space near the Manhattan waterfront.
Officials have not yet released a final cause for the hard landing. The investigation will likely look at weather, water conditions, aircraft damage, pilot actions, and other possible factors.
For now, the most important outcome is that everyone on board was rescued safely and only minor injuries were reported. The incident is another reminder of the risks connected to urban seaplane operations, even during routine flights.
