Witnesses have shared chilling accounts of the helicopter crash into the Hudson River that claimed multiple lives, including children.Dani Horbiak, who was at home in Jersey City, heard a series of rapid noises resembling gunshots. Alarmed, she rushed to her window and saw the helicopter spiraling out of control before it broke apart and plunged into the river. “It splashed in several pieces,” she recalled, shaken by the event.In Hoboken,
Lesly Camacho, a hostess at a restaurant, also witnessed the crash. She described the helicopter spinning wildly with smoke trailing behind it before crashing violently into the water.Mandy Bowlin, a tourist from Chattanooga, Tennessee, was aboard a Circle Line sightseeing boat when the peaceful excursion turned into a nightmare. She heard a loud boom and turned to see the helicopter’s rotor blade detach midair before the aircraft nosedived into the water. Bowlin was terrified, especially for her daughter, as debris flew toward their boat,Peter Park, a local Jersey City resident, heard a loud bang around 3:15 p.m. and looked out the window to see a helicopter trailing black smoke. He saw rotor blades fall into the river, dangerously close to the New Jersey shoreline. Concerned for the safety of those nearby,
Park immediately texted his wife and called 911 to report the crash.Dominick Cognata, another witness, was walking when he heard an engine sputtering and turned to see the helicopter crash into the water. He recalled the distressing moment in an interview, adding to the growing number of accounts from the scene. More details are expected to follow as the investigation continues.