Helicopter Misses Landing Pad, Ends Up in Hudson River

A helicopter with only the pilot aboard fell short of a landing pad in Manhattan and slipped into the Hudson River Wednesday afternoon, authorities say. The pilot was rescued by a passing NY Waterway ferry a short time later and the chopper was seen on flotation devices. The captain, who was ferrying passengers between West 39th Street in Manhattan and 14th Street in Hoboken just happened to see the aircraft go down around 1:20 p.m., and his deckhand deployed a rescue device off the ferry bow, NY Waterway said. It was the second rescue for Capt. Adam Sciaino in 10 years with the company. “It was just instinct. Just another day for NY Waterway rescues,” Sciaino said in a statement. “We’re right here. Edwin Montoya is an outstanding deckhand. He moved instantly to the rescue.”