New York, United States: A Kodiak 100 amphibious seaplane made a hard landing in New York City’s East River on Sunday, July 5, leaving two people with minor injuries but resulting in the safe rescue of all eight occupants after a rapid emergency response near Manhattan’s Skyport Seaplane Base.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:00 p.m. EDT as the single-engine aircraft was approaching the New York Skyport Seaplane Base near East 23rd Street and FDR Drive on Manhattan’s East Side. According to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), the aircraft touched down hard in the river, remained upright, but came to rest leaning to one side with its left wing partially submerged.
The aircraft had departed East Hampton on Long Island and was operating a scheduled seaplane service to Manhattan. Reports indicate the flight was operated by Acadian Seaplanes under Blade Air Mobility’s booking platform.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the aircraft as a Kodiak 100 seaplane, manufactured in 2025. Public FAA records currently do not list the aircraft owner’s identity, although ownership information has not been released publicly at this stage.
Authorities confirmed there were eight people on board the aircraft. Earlier reports indicating ten occupants were later corrected by the FDNY after officials verified the final passenger count.
Emergency crews from the FDNY, NYPD Harbor Unit, and other first responders quickly reached the aircraft. Nearby civilian boaters also assisted before emergency vessels arrived.
All eight occupants were successfully rescued from the aircraft. Two occupants sustained minor injuries. FDNY officials said the injuries were non-life-threatening. Some reports indicated the injured passengers declined further medical treatment, while others said they were evaluated by emergency medical personnel.
Following the rescue, responders stabilized the aircraft, righted it on the water and towed it back to the dock. Video recorded inside the cabin captured the moment the aircraft struck the choppy water during landing. Passengers can be heard reacting as the aircraft bounced violently before coming to rest.
Among those on board were 16-year-old Khloe Todd and her 75-year-old grandmother, Ada Todd, who were returning from East Hampton after attending a family birthday celebration.
Khloe Todd told media that the impact was sudden and violent, with the aircraft rocking repeatedly after touchdown. She said the pilots instructed passengers to remain calm and keep their life jackets nearby while waiting for rescue.
Ada Todd suffered bruising and pain following the hard landing but survived the accident.
Recreational boater Dan Thys and his wife were among the first civilians to reach the aircraft after witnessing the accident. Thys said the East River was experiencing rough conditions and that his vessel responded immediately before police boats arrived to take over the rescue operation.
Video from the scene showed multiple FDNY and NYPD rescue boats surrounding the partially submerged aircraft while a helicopter monitored the response overhead.
According to passenger accounts and eyewitnesses, the aircraft encountered rough, choppy water during its landing approach. Reports suggested storm-driven waves and boat traffic may have created difficult landing conditions, although investigators have not determined whether weather or water conditions played a role.
The FAA said one of the aircraft’s wing struts snapped during the hard landing. The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation into the incident. As of the latest official update, authorities have not identified the cause of the hard landing. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, weather conditions, water state, pilot actions and other operational factors before determining what led to the accident.
