Passengers onboard plane that plummeted into the East River are identified after making miracle escape from the jaws of death
A seaplane carrying eight people has crashed into the East River in New York City in front of thousands of worried onlookers.
The NYC Fire Department said the Kodiak 100 single-engine turbo prop made a hard landing on the water but all on board were safely rescued.
Two of them were Khloe Todd, 16, and her grandmother Ada Todd, 75, who were in the Hamptons celebrating one of Ada’s friends’ birthday.
‘Plane is upright in the water and being towed back to dock. Eight civilians removed from plane by FDNY units,’ FDNY said.
‘Two civilians with minor injuries are being evaluated by EMS.’
New Yorkers filmed the plane hit the choppy water and partially capsize, and rescue boats scramble to help the passengers from the stricken aircraft.
The passengers and crew were seen being assessed by ambulances near the entrance to FDR Drive after being brought to shore.
The NYC Fire Department said the plane made a hard landing on the water but all six on board were safely rescued
Two of them were Khloe Todd, 16, (pictured) and her grandmother Ada Todd, 75, who were in the Hamptons celebrating one of Ada’s friends’ birthday
New Yorkers filmed the plane hit the choppy water and partially capsize, and rescue boats scramble to help the passengers from the stricken aircraft
Boats pull up alongside the plane to extract the passengers and bring them ashore
The aircraft was flying in from East Hampton Town, Long Island, and departed at 10.38am, according to flight data.
Blade Air told the Daily Mail the hard landing was likely caused by choppy water from passing boats and Saturday night’s thunderstorm.
‘There were a lot of ferries in the vicinity and there may have been wind at the last second,’ a source at the company said.
‘The waves they create can be a problem as you try to land on the water.’
Blade said the impact cracked one of the plane’s struts – which connects the pontoons to the body of the plane – which also caused damage to one of the pontoons.
The flight was being operated by Acadian Seaplanes on Blade’s behalf.
The plane was manufactured in 2022 and registered to Del Air Sky with tail number N555NL, according to records.
Photos showed the left wing dipping into the river as police boats rushed to rescue those inside.
Photos showed the left wing dipping into the river as police boats rushed to rescue those inside
The plane cracked one of its struts – which connects the pontoons to the body of the plane – which also caused damage to one of the pontoons
The passengers and crew were seen being assessed by ambulances near the entrance to FDR Drive after being brought to shore
Once everyone on board was helped out, the plane was righted and towed to the docks near 23rd Street.
Blade said passengers got their bags about 20 minutes after they were helped ashore, and were put in cars to their final destinations.
The hard landing will be investigated by the NYPD and Federal Aviation Administration.
East Hampton is one of the wealthiest areas on Long Island, and is a popular destination for the rich and famous to spend their summers.
Even more are in the Hamptons now for the Fourth of July weekend and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding last Friday.
