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Seaplane Makes Hard Landing in New York's East River, No Injuries Reported

Published July 5, 2026 at 7:32 PM UTC

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On Sunday, July 5, 2026, a seaplane carrying ten passengers made a hard landing in New York City's East River, just after noon. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) responded promptly to the incident, which occurred near the marina at East 23rd Street and the FDR Drive in Manhattan. The plane, a Kodiak 100 seaplane built last year, landed upright in the water, and all eight passengers were safely removed by FDNY units. Two individuals sustained minor injuries and declined medical attention at the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the rough landing caused a wing strut to snap, and an investigation into the incident is underway. Eyewitnesses and social media images showed the white seaplane tilted on its side with its left wingtip in the water, while a helicopter circled above. The aircraft was subsequently towed back to the dock without further complications. This incident marks the second seaplane crash in the East River in less than a month, following a similar event near Whitestone, Queens, where no injuries were reported. The FAA is expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the hard landing and to prevent future occurrences.