New York City News July 5, 2026
New Yorkers enjoying a typical Sunday afternoon were suddenly met with an unexpected scene when a seaplane made a hard landing in the East River, triggering a rapid emergency response from firefighters, police, and marine rescue crews. The incident unfolded shortly after noon near the Skyport Seaplane Terminal at East 23rd Street along the FDR Drive in Manhattan. Witnesses watched as the aircraft struck the water harder than expected before coming to rest with one wing partially submerged. Within minutes, emergency boats surrounded the plane while helicopters monitored the situation from above. A Fast Response Prevented a Much Worse Outcome Despite the dramatic images circulating online, the outcome was far better than many initially feared. According to New York City officials, all eight people aboard the aircraft were safely rescued. Emergency crews quickly helped passengers off the plane while medical personnel evaluated everyone at the scene. Two people suffered minor injuries,...