The video shows the seaplane after a rough landing in the East River in New York City
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Eight people were rescued after a seaplane made a hard landing in New York City’s East River on Sunday afternoon, prompting the rush of firefighters after the plane went down near the seaplane’s only landing site, officials said.
The Fire Department of New York told Fox News Digital that it received a call at 12:01 p.m. reporting a plane in the water near the NY Skyport at East 23rd Street and FDR Drive in Manhattan.
Firefighters arrived and found the seaplane in the water. FDNY units extricated all eight people on board before the plane was towed back to a nearby dock, the department said.
Two residents suffered minor injuries but declined attention at the scene, according to the FDNY. No other injuries were immediately reported.
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Emergency crews respond after a seaplane makes a hard landing in the East River in New York City near the NY Skyport on July 5, 2026. All eight people on board were rescued. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the plane as a Kodiak 100 seaplane and told Fox News Digital that the pilot made a hard landing in the East River around noon local time, causing the wing to cut off.
The flight departed from East Hampton Airport on Long Island and headed for Skyport Airport in Manhattan, according to the New York Times and CNN.
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A seaplane remains in the East River following a hard landing near Manhattan on July 5, 2026. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
NY Skyport on Manhattan’s East Side is New York City’s only seaplane terminal, offering scheduled and charter flights to destinations throughout the Northeast.
The FAA said eight people were on board the plane, registered as N726SH. The agency said it is investigating the incident and noted that the information released on Sunday is preliminary and subject to change.
Air traffic control recordings captured the moments surrounding the incident, including the pilot declaring a Mayday before the plane went down into the river. Separate radio transmissions captured a New York Police Department helicopter responding to reports of a “plane going down.”
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Firefighters and marines respond after a seaplane went down in the East River in New York City near the NY Skyport on July 5, 2026. Two people suffered minor injuries, officials said. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
Authorities have not yet identified the pilot or passengers, and it was not clear what led to the hard landing.
Video from the scene showed first responders circling the plane as it drifted toward the East River as rescuers tried to remove the occupants. Additional video showed the seaplane being towed back to the dock after the rescue operation was completed.
The incident prompted a massive emergency response along the East River waterfront as FDNY marine units and other first responders converged on the area.
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The FAA directed questions about the people on board to local authorities. Fox News Digital contacted the New York City Police Department for more information.
