Horror as seaplane crash-lands in New York river with eight people on board

A seaplane carrying eight people crash-landed on New York City's East River, leaving the aircraft partially submerged after a violent impact during its approach to the dock.

The Kodiak 100 was attempting to land at the Skyport terminal near East 23rd Street and FDR Drive when it struck the choppy water with force.

Passengers described hearing a loud bang as the aircraft hit the river before being thrown around inside the cabin by the waves.

The plane eventually came to rest floating on the water, with one wing submerged beneath the surface.

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Khloe Todd, 16, said the incident felt like "a crash, a very bad one" as she and her family returned from celebrating a birthday in East Hampton.

The teenager said her grandmother, Ada, suffered the worst of the impact.

"She's really not feeling well – her ribs, her back, her head. It's all swollen," he said.

"It's all really bad so we might end up going to the hospital tonight."

Despite flying regularly, Todd said it was her first experience on a seaplane and admitted she had been left "traumatised" by the ordeal.

The aircraft's two pilots instructed passengers to remain calm and keep their life jackets close by as the damaged plane remained afloat.

Emergency crews quickly arrived at the scene and safely evacuated everyone on board.

Officials said at least two people suffered minor injuries.

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Once the passengers and crew had been rescued, recovery teams managed to right the partially submerged aircraft before towing it back to shore.

Acadian Seaplanes, which operated the flight through Blade Air, said turbulent water conditions caused by a storm the previous evening and the wake from nearby ferries may have contributed to the hard landing.

"There were a lot of ferries in the vicinity and there may have been wind at the last second," the company said.

"The waves they create can be a problem as you try to land on the water."

Police confirmed an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The crash comes just months after a separate aviation tragedy at New York's LaGuardia Airport that left two people dead and two others seriously injured.

The incident occurred when an Air Canada passenger jet carrying 76 passengers and four crew members collided with a fire truck on the runway at around 24mph.

Footage from the scene showed the aircraft with its nose raised and significant damage to the underside of the fuselage following the collision.

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