Overview
- Emergency crews from the FDNY and NYPD Harbor Unit rescued all eight people aboard a Kodiak 100 after the aircraft made a hard water landing in the East River on Sunday, and two passengers were treated for minor injuries.
- Passenger footage, ATC audio and NYPD body‑worn camera video recorded the pilot declaring "Mayday" and show the plane floating upright with one wing submerged as rescuers evacuated occupants.
- The FAA said the hard landing broke a wing strut and has launched an investigation into the incident with a preliminary accident report due this week.
- The operator told reporters that choppy water and ferry wakes may have contributed, and investigators will examine water conditions, pilot communications and the strut and pontoon damage.
- This episode follows another East River seaplane mishap in mid‑June and is renewing scrutiny of Skyport operations and how heavy river traffic can complicate seaplane landings.