[Faline]

In a tragic incident that unfolded in New York's East River, an experienced pilot named Paul Dudley, aged 56 and an airport director, lost control of his helicopter seconds after take-off. This unfortunate incident resulted in the loss of a British tourist's life and left three other passengers injured. Amidst the chaos, pilot Paul Dudley could be heard screaming, "We're going down," as the helicopter rapidly descended and ultimately crashed into the river.

The victims included Sonia Marra, the British tourist who tragically lost her life, and her partner, Helen Tamaki, along with her parents, Harriet Nicholson and Paul, who are currently fighting for their lives. Notably, Mr. Dudley, the pilot, managed to survive the crash.

Paul Dudley, a father of three and a skilled aviator, owned Linden Airport Services, a company responsible for managing the municipal airport in Linden, New Jersey, under a 20-year contract with the city. Linden Mayor Richard Gerbounka praised his piloting skills, describing him as an accomplished pilot. Mr. Dudley's previous emergency landing in a field near Coney Island in New York, following an engine failure five years prior, showcased his ability to handle challenging situations.

Paul Dudley's wife, Sunhe Dudley, briefly communicated with her husband after the crash, assuring that he was okay. She also mentioned that the victims were close friends of theirs who had been on the ill-fated helicopter.

The doomed flight, organized by Helen Tamaki to celebrate her partner's 40th and Mr. Nicholson's 71st birthdays, took off from the East 34th Street heliport around 3 pm. Unfortunately, the helicopter ascended only about 25 feet into the air before its engine failed, leaving witnesses initially baffled by what appeared to be a daredevil maneuver. Tragically, the Bell 206 Jet Ranger descended uncontrollably and came to rest upside down 50 feet below the river's surface.

Quickly responding to the scene, emergency crews, including police officers involved in a counter-terrorism drill, arrived within seconds. Despite their efforts, they could not save Miss Marra, whose body took 90 minutes to recover. She had not been wearing a seatbelt and was declared dead at the scene. Mr. Dudley received treatment at the scene.

Currently, Mrs. Nicholson and Miss Tamaki are both in critical condition at Bellevue Hospital, while Mr. Nicholson is being treated at New York University Medical Center. It's important to note that Mr. Dudley's helicopter lacked floats and was found upside down in the river, which had a temperature of around 66°F.

The tragedy left hundreds of bystanders horrified as they watched the helicopter crash. Witnesses described the aircraft's erratic movements and its swift descent into the river, with some brave individuals attempting to assist the passengers.

[kellyhound]

horror death.

[**butterflylove**]

thats a chick? Poor thing though

[MarmaladeGypsy]

I was there when this happened. We were eating at Sylvia’s right down from my apartment and I began hearing the news choppers circling. The restaurant turned on the news channel and the tourist helicopter had just went down and search and rescue were underway. I remember them pulling the Australian lady from the water, and a news chopper zoomed in at that moment. Her belly/chest was all hanging out on live TV, and I felt bad for her loved ones. Then, the graphic image was the cover of one of our morning metro papers the next day.

[nowheretorun56]

Damn Skippy