US

Plane and helicopter collide over New York’s Hudson River

Article published on the 2009-08-09 Latest update 2009-08-09 10:54 TU

Divers search for remains at the crash site on the Hudson River.
(Photo: Reuters)

Four bodies, including that of a child, have been recovered from the river by rescue workers following the Saturday evening mid-air collision of a helicopter and a single engine plane in New York City.

The sightseeing helicopter was carrying five Italian tourists visiting from Bologna, authorities said. They, along with the pilot, are all suspected to have died in the crash.

The Italian Foreign Ministry said consulate officials were working with New York authorities to identify the victims.

A small single engine plane, carrying three Americans, approached the helicopter from behind before its wing made contact with the helicopter, witnesses say.

All nine people were believed killed in the crash, said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He called the collision a "great tragedy."

"There was an accident which we do not believe was survivable," Bloomberg told reporters, adding that the search for survivors had become a recovery mission.