Captain of boat that capsized near Statue of Liberty is CHARGED after woman, 27, and baby were killed when 'overloaded' vessle flipped

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:00, 9 August 2026 | Updated: 15:29, 9 August 2026 The captain who was in charge of the boat that flipped and capsized near the Statue of Liberty, killing two people, has been hit with a number of charges. Manuel Hernandez, 46, faces 13 charges of reckless endangerment after a 27-year-old woman and a five-month-old girl were killed when the boat capsized in New York Harbor on Saturday night. Sources told the New York Post that the boat captain had been operating the vessel while it was dangerously overloaded with 14 people onboard.  The 22-foot bowrider motorboat turned over at around 10.30pm, police said.   Emergency responders found the woman and girl at the scene and they were both airlifted to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn in critical condition, police said. Both were later declared to have died. It remains unclear if the two victims who died were related and their identities have not been made public pending family notification, the NYPD said.  A large search and rescue operation was launched after the incident, as 12 people were rescued with minor injuries and transported to hospital. Harrowing cries from loved ones of the victims could be heard at the hospital, the New York Post reported. After a 27-year-old woman and a five-month-old girl were killed as a boat capsized in New York Harbor on Saturday night, the operator of the vessel now faces 13 charges of reckless endangerment  Sources told the New York Post that the boat captain, who has not been publicly identified, had been operating the vessel while it was dangerously overloaded with 14 people onboard 'No. Why? Why? No,' a relative reportedly screamed in horror. People at the hospital were also reportedly still holding their life jackets. Multiple units from the FDNY, Harbor, Scuba and Aviation, responded to the scene.  Divers with the New York Police Department were also seen in the water rescuing passengers. Footage from the scene showed multiple emergency vessels in the water flashing lights.  The Daily Mail has reached out to the NYPD for more information.   This is a breaking news story.