Harrowing footage from INSIDE plane shows terror-stricken passengers plunge into NYC river after Hamptons trip: Screams of 'mayday' as they brace during crash

Published: 19:22, 5 July 2026 | Updated: 19:22, 5 July 2026 Terrifying footage has captured the panicked moment eight people on board a small plane crashed and started to capsize in New York's East River on Sunday morning. Khloe Todd, 16, was traveling back from a weekend away in the Hamptons with her grandmother, Ada, where they were celebrating one of her friend's birthdays during the Independence Day heatwave. The aircraft was flying in from East Hampton Town - one of the wealthiest areas on Long Island - and departed at 10.38am on Sunday before it was scheduled to land in Manhattan.  But just before midday, the teen said she heard a 'thud' and the Blade seaplane started to capsize on its left side, causing lights to flash and alarms to sound inside.  Khloe became panicked when she heard the pilots inside the aircraft start shouting 'mayday' and demanded that everyone put their life jackets on immediately.  The teen was sitting two rows behind the pilots, next to her 75-year-old grandmother, when the aircraft crashed and its left wing began tilting into the East River.   In the harrowing footage shared with the Daily Mail, one of the pilots can be heard explaining to terrified passengers that the 'pontoon broke.' Ada Todd, who was holding a leather Hermes Kelly and a bottle of water in one hand, can be heard saying 'oh my god' - a phrase then echoed by her granddaughter.  The pilots inside the aircraft start shouting 'mayday' and demanded that everyone put their life jackets on immediately after it crashed and started to capsize in the East River Ada Todd, who was celebrating her friend's birthday in the Hamptons over the weekend, was heard in the harrowing video saying 'oh my god' after the plane crashed Khloe Todd, 16, (pictured) was in the ritzy enclave with her grandmother for the weekend 'We need everyone to put your PFDs [personal flotation devices] on, okay?' the pilot said, as Khloe filmed from her seat and Ada held on to the chair in front of her.  Two passengers then respond in worried voices, 'where are they?' before the video abruptly ends.   Khloe told the Daily Mail: 'I've never taken these [planes] before. I was like oh, we're landing in the water, you know, obviously it's going to be a little bumpy.  'But I didn't expect it to be that bumpy. So then I see everyone is shouting mayday mayday mayday, open your life vests.'  She said she was grateful for a man sitting in the seats behind them on the plane, who helped calm everyone down as the aircraft flipped into the water.   She added: 'There was a guy behind us who knew about planes, who was telling us, "We are okay, we aren't going to drown, everything will be okay."' Khloe told the Daily Mail that her grandma has prior spinal problems and her head was injured in the aftermath of the crash.  New Yorkers filmed the Kodiak 100 single-engine turbo prop hit the choppy water and partially capsize, and rescue boats scramble to help the passengers from the stricken aircraft. Khloe filmed from her seat, as her 75-year-old grandmother Ada held on to the chair in front of her during the mayday situation New Yorkers filmed the plane hit the choppy water and partially capsize, and rescue boats scramble to help the passengers from the stricken aircraft The passengers and crew were seen being assessed by ambulances near the entrance to FDR Drive after being brought to shore. Blade Air told the Daily Mail that the hard landing was likely caused by choppy water from passing boats and Saturday night's thunderstorm. 'There were a lot of ferries in the vicinity and there may have been wind at the last second,' a source at the company said. 'The waves they create can be a problem as you try to land on the water.' Blade said the impact cracked one of the plane's struts - which connects the pontoons to the body of the plane - which also caused damage to one of the pontoons. The flight was being operated by Acadian Seaplanes on Blade's behalf. The plane was manufactured in 2022 and registered to Del Air Sky with tail number N555NL, according to records. Once everyone on board was helped out, the plane was righted and towed to the docks near 23rd Street. Blade said passengers got their bags about 20 minutes after they were helped ashore, and were put in cars to their final destinations. The hard landing will be investigated by the NYPD and Federal Aviation Administration. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.