Seaplane Makes Emergency Landing in East River and Occupants Are Rescued

Overview

• A single-engine Kodiak 100 operating a commercial Hamptons–Manhattan flight made a forced water landing in the East River on Sunday after hitting a wave or wake and partially capsized while alongside a Manhattan seaplane dock.
• FDNY, NYPD port-unit boats and nearby vessels removed all occupants from the aircraft and towed the plane to a dock near East 23rd Street, and police bodycam video released on July 7 shows the step-by-step rescue.
• Reports vary on how many people were aboard with outlets saying eight to ten passengers, and agencies differ on injuries with some outlets reporting none and the FDNY saying two people had minor injuries under evaluation.
• Blade Air said the flight was brokered to Acadian Seaplanes and that the 2022 Kodiak 100 registered N555NL suffered a cracked strut and damage to one float after the impact.
• The FAA and the NYPD have opened investigations into the landing and the damage, and the incident has renewed attention on how wakes from ferries and storm-driven chop can affect seaplane water landings during busy summer travel periods.