Seaplane Hard Landing in Manhattan East River: Eight Rescued, Investigation Launched

At midday on July 5, 2026, a Kodiak 100 seaplane made a hard landing against the East River along the East 23rd Street waterfront, propelling it into the water. Emergency services salvaged eight passengers from the inverted aircraft, with two suffering minor injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation after a wing strut snapped during the impact.

The pilot had reportedly flown from the Hamptons, struggling to land on the river’s moving surface, factor that may have contributed to the hard touchdown. This follows a June incident where a small seaplane was rocked by a wave, leaving one pilot and a passenger in a life‑vessel.

Local authorities say air traffic control was not providing services to the aircraft at the time of the incident.