A seaplane was forced to make a hard landing in New York City's East River on Sunday, July 5. Fire Department officials were the first to respond to reports of an airplane touching down in the river. The incident occurred around midday local time.
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According to NBC New York, it was originally believed that the plane was carrying ten passengers. However, that number has now been decreased to eight. A video of the plane has now surfaced on social media. The video shows the aircraft bouncing up and down with the current.
"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will investigate the incident, said the pilot "made a hard landing", causing a wing strut to snap," The BBC reports. "In a hard landing, a plane touches down with excessive vertical speed or force, exceeding the manufacturer's limit."
According to a statement from the FAA, air traffic control "was not providing services to the aircraft" when the incident occurred, per The BBC.
Marcus Hurlburt, a bystander running along the East River, witnessed the plane approaching its landing zone.
"The pilot did a great job on making sure it didn't turn over," Hurlburt told The New York Times. "He pulled a Sully on that one. I was so impressed the pilot didn't let it sink."
The Plane Was Reportedly Traveling to New York From the Hamptons
According to The New York Times, the plane had recently taken off from East Hampton and was heading to the Skyport at East 23rd Street.
"The plane, which left from East Hampton, was heading to the seaplane base Skyport at East 23rd Street and Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive around noon when it struck a wave while landing, causing the aircraft to partially capsize, fire officials and the police said," The New York Times reported. "Fire Department boats towed the plane back to a dock."
At least two people are reportedly being treated for minor injuries. Fortunately, nobody on the plane is reported to have lost their lives. However, there is currently no information as to what led the plane to make the hard landing. An investigation will undoubtedly ensue.
