Dramatic NYPD bodycam footage captured the swift rescue of eight passengers from a seaplane that crash-landed and began to capsize in New York's East River. The incident occurred shortly after midday on Sunday when a Blade-operated seaplane, returning from the Hamptons, experienced a hard landing, losing a pontoon upon impact with the water.
The one-minute clip shows officers from the NYPD Harbor Unit arriving on the scene moments after the crash. They are seen speeding toward the listing aircraft, securing it with a rope to their patrol boat to prevent it from drifting. The officers then calmly guided the frightened passengers to safety as the seaplane tilted precariously.
Officers can be heard urgently confirming that all individuals were accounted for while assisting passengers, one by one, in climbing from the floating aircraft onto the patrol boat. Several passengers were seen wearing bright yellow life jackets as they carefully made their way across the gap between the two vessels, with officers steadying them and helping them into the cabin. The rescue operation maintained a remarkably calm atmosphere despite the precarious situation.
One passenger, 16-year-old Khloe Todd, recounted the terrifying moments after the hard landing. She initially believed it was a routine landing until she heard a loud thud and felt the plane suddenly lurch to its left side. She then heard the pilots repeatedly shout "mayday" and order everyone to put on their personal flotation devices. Todd was traveling with her 75-year-old grandmother, Ada Todd, who has pre-existing spinal problems and sustained a head injury during the landing.
According to Blade Air, the hard landing was likely caused by rough water created by ferry traffic, combined with weather conditions following Saturday night's thunderstorms. A company source indicated that wind at the last second and waves generated by ferries could have presented challenges for the landing. The impact cracked one of the aircraft's struts and damaged a pontoon, causing the plane to list heavily.
The flight was operated by Acadian Seaplanes on behalf of Blade. The aircraft, a Kodiak 100 single-engine turboprop manufactured in 2022, was later righted and towed to a dock near East 23rd Street. Passengers were able to collect their belongings before continuing their journeys by car.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the NYPD.