A seaplane carrying eight people made a hard landing in New York City’s East River, leaving the aircraft tilted in the water and triggering a rapid response from firefighters, police and marine rescue crews.
The incident happened around noon on Sunday, July 5, near the New York Skyport seaplane terminal at East 23rd Street and the FDR Drive in Manhattan. All eight occupants were safely removed from the aircraft, while two people sustained minor injuries.
The plane remained upright after the landing but leaned heavily to one side, with part of its wing touching or partially submerged in the river. Emergency crews secured the aircraft before towing it back to a nearby dock.
Wing Strut Snapped During the Hard Landing
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Kodiak 100 seaplane.
According to the FAA, a wing strut snapped when the aircraft made the hard landing in the East River near Brooklyn at approximately noon. The agency said air traffic controllers were not providing services to the aircraft at the time and confirmed that it would investigate the incident.
A wing strut is a structural component that helps support and stabilize an aircraft’s wing. Damage to this part can cause the wing to lean, shift or lose some of its normal structural support.
Images from the scene showed the white-and-blue seaplane sitting at an angle while an NYPD vessel, an FDNY boat and towing crews surrounded it.
The aircraft did not fully sink, allowing rescuers to reach the occupants and move them away from the damaged plane quickly.
Everyone Aboard Was Safely Rescued
The New York City Fire Department initially described the incident as a hard landing rather than a conventional crash.
FDNY personnel rescued all eight people aboard the aircraft. Two occupants were evaluated for minor injuries, but no serious injuries or deaths were reported.
The Associated Press later corrected early reports that had provided different numbers for the people aboard and the injuries. Updated information from city officials confirmed that eight people were on the plane and two suffered minor injuries.
The successful rescue was helped by the aircraft remaining near the surface and close to the East River seaplane terminal, where emergency and marine units could reach it quickly.
Readers can review the Associated Press report on the East River seaplane landing for the latest confirmed information from city authorities.
The Plane Landed Near Manhattan’s Seaplane Terminal
The hard landing occurred close to the New York Skyport, a small seaplane terminal along the East River near East 23rd Street.
The location is used by commercial and private seaplanes traveling between Manhattan and destinations such as eastern Long Island. Unlike conventional aircraft, seaplanes use floats or a boat-shaped fuselage to take off and land on water.
Water landings can be affected by wind, waves, boat wakes and river traffic. Even a relatively small change in the aircraft’s angle or contact with uneven water can place significant force on a float, wing or support structure.
Officials have not yet determined whether water conditions, mechanical failure, pilot actions or another factor caused the hard landing.
The FAA investigation will examine the damaged aircraft, its maintenance history, flight information and statements from the crew.
The Aircraft Was Reportedly Arriving From Long Island
The Kodiak 100 had reportedly traveled from East Hampton Town on Long Island before arriving in Manhattan.
The aircraft is a single-engine turboprop designed to operate from both conventional runways and water when equipped with floats. It is commonly used for passenger transport, charter flights and operations in areas with limited airport infrastructure.
The plane involved in the East River incident was reportedly manufactured in 2025. Investigators are expected to determine whether the snapped wing strut failed before contact with the water or broke because of forces generated during the landing.
That distinction will be important because it may reveal whether the damaged component contributed to the accident or was a result of it.
Bystanders Watched the Plane Tilt Into the Water
The hard landing attracted attention from people along Manhattan’s eastern waterfront.
Videos and photographs showed the seaplane leaning to the side as rescue vessels approached. Its left wingtip appeared to be in the water, while the main body of the plane remained above the surface.
A helicopter was also seen operating over the scene as emergency teams worked below.
The incident happened in a busy section of the East River where ferries, private boats, commercial vessels and emergency craft regularly operate. Responders had to protect the passengers while preventing the damaged aircraft from drifting into marine traffic.
The ABC7 New York report from the scene confirms that the landing occurred near East 23rd Street and the FDR Drive shortly after noon.
What a Hard Landing Means
A hard landing occurs when an aircraft contacts a runway or water with greater force than intended.
The term does not automatically mean that the pilot lost complete control or that the aircraft was destroyed. However, the impact can damage landing gear, floats, wings, struts or the aircraft’s internal structure.
For a seaplane, the shape and movement of the water make landing conditions different from those on a paved runway. A float can catch a wave, strike uneven water or experience sudden resistance that causes the aircraft to slow or turn sharply.
Pilots generally evaluate wind direction, wave height, boat wakes and obstacles before attempting a water landing. Even an experienced crew may face rapidly changing conditions on a busy urban river.
After a hard landing, an aircraft normally requires a detailed inspection before it can return to service. Structural components that appear intact externally may still have hidden cracks, deformation or stress damage.
Why the Plane Did Not Immediately Sink
Seaplanes are designed with buoyant floats or hull structures that allow them to remain on the water.
In this incident, the aircraft stayed upright enough for emergency crews to remove everyone aboard. However, the broken strut and tilted wing created an unstable position that required the plane to be secured and towed.
Water entering a float or damaged section can gradually reduce buoyancy. Rescue teams therefore needed to act quickly even though the aircraft was not immediately sinking.
The plane was eventually returned to a dock, where investigators and maintenance personnel could examine the damage more safely.
The FAA Will Determine What Caused the Landing
The FAA has opened an investigation into the incident.
Investigators are likely to review the aircraft’s flight path, weather conditions, maintenance records and mechanical systems. They may also inspect the wing strut, floats and surrounding attachment points to determine how and when the structural failure occurred.
Statements from the pilot, crew and passengers may help establish whether there were unusual sounds, warning indications or handling problems before the aircraft touched the water.
The public can search for aviation investigations and safety information through the Federal Aviation Administration’s official safety resources.
A final determination may take time because aviation investigators must distinguish between damage that caused an incident and damage produced by the impact itself.
East River Seaplane Incidents Have Happened Before
The East River has previously been the site of seaplane emergencies.
In July 2017, another seaplane made a hard landing near East 20th Street after encountering choppy water. One of its pontoons was damaged, but all 10 people aboard were safely evacuated.
The latest incident does not establish a broader safety problem with all seaplane operations in New York. It does, however, highlight the challenges of operating aircraft on a heavily used urban waterway surrounded by buildings, boats and changing wind conditions.
Each accident must be investigated separately based on its aircraft, weather, crew decisions and mechanical evidence.
Minor Injuries Prevented a More Serious Outcome
Although the aircraft sustained substantial visible damage, the incident ended without fatalities or serious injuries.
All eight people aboard were rescued, and the two reported injuries were described as minor. The plane remained afloat long enough for responders to secure it and return it to the dock.
The outcome could have been more serious if the aircraft had overturned completely, sunk rapidly or collided with another vessel.
The investigation will now focus on why the Kodiak 100 landed so forcefully and what caused its wing strut to snap. Until that work is complete, authorities have not assigned blame or announced an official cause.
