BREAKING: Six Dead After Helicopter Crashes in New York’s Hudson River

Six people were killed on Thursday afternoon when the helicopter they were traveling in crashed in the Hudson River.

Numerous videos circulating on social media appeared to show the chopper dropping from the sky quickly – some of them purporting to show the aircraft in multiple pieces before it crashed into the water.

The Associated Press reported five bodies were recovered quickly after the chopper went down at 3:17 ET.

The helicopter came down hard into the water on the western side of the river near Jersey City, New Jersey.

The AP reported:

The fire department said it had units on scene performing rescue operations. Multiple rescue boats were seen on video circling the aircraft.

The rescue craft were near a site close to the Manhattan waterfront, near the end of a long maintenance pier for one of the ventilation towers for the Holland Tunnel. Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles were on streets near the scene with their lights flashing.

Alexis McAdams with Fox News reported, “Trying to figure out who exactly was on board it was a family in the country on a visit and was taking a quick tour of Manhattan when this went down. The weather is windy today you can see the American flag blowing in the wind, those are a quick look at the conditions. No word on exactly what happened but I’m told at least one of the people on board was the pilot and a family we are told by authorities was on board when it went down into the Hudson.”

Fox News further reported it was immediately believed those aboard included a family from Europe touring New York City by air.

Children are believed to be among the dead.

Watch above via Fox News.