Helicopter plummets into Hudson

A helicopter on a sightseeing tour of Manhattan made an emergency landing in the Hudson River, leaving all eight people aboard drenched but not seriously harmed, authorities said.

As smoke poured from the aircraft, seven passengers and a pilot were pulled from the waters between Manhattan and New Jersey by two volunteer vessels.

It was unclear why the helicopter had to land in the river. The pilot deployed yellow emergency floats and made a controlled landing, authorities said. With the aircraft bobbing, its propellers askew, the two vessels rushed to aid life-jacketed passengers floating in the current.

The rescuers passed the eight to Coast Guard officials, who returned them to shore for medical evaluation.