Dramatic East River Emergency Landing Ends in Safe Rescue of Everyone On Board

A dramatic emergency landing on New York City’s East River ended with the safe rescue of everyone on board after the aircraft was forced to land in the water.

Emergency crews responded quickly, bringing all passengers and crew to safety without reported fatalities. Authorities praised the coordinated rescue effort as investigators began examining what led to the emergency landing.

Eight people were rescued after a seaplane made a hard landing in New York City’s East River on Sunday afternoon, prompting a swift emergency response from firefighters after the aircraft came down 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 p.m. reporting a plane in the water near the NY Skyport at East 23rd Street and FDR Drive in Manhattan.

Fire crews arrived to find the seaplane upright in the water. FDNY units removed all eight people aboard before the aircraft was towed back to a nearby dock, the department said.

Two civilians suffered minor injuries but declined medical attention at the scene, according to the FDNY. No additional injuries were immediately reported.

The NY Skyport on Manhattan’s East Side is New York City’s only seaplane terminal, serving scheduled and charter flights to destinations throughout the Northeast.

The FAA said eight people were aboard the aircraft, which is registered as N726SH. The agency said it is investigating the incident and noted the information released Sunday is preliminary and subject to change.

Air traffic control recordings captured the moments surrounding the incident, including the pilot declaring a mayday before the aircraft came down in the river. Separate radio traffic captured a New York City Police Department helicopter responding to reports of a “plane down in the water.”