NYPD: Bodies of plane pilot, adult passenger remain missing

HOBOKEN, N.J. —Divers resume their search Monday for the bodies of the pilot of the small plane and an adult passenger who were killed along with seven others in a midair collision over the Hudson River.

A New York police spokesman says the bodies of the six aboard the sightseeing helicopter — the pilot and five Italian tourists — and the body of one teenage boy aboard the plane have been recovered.

Federal investigators do not know what caused the two aircraft to collide within the busy corridor above the river along Manhattan. Witnesses say the plane approached the helicopter, which had just taken off for a 12-minute tour, from behind and clipped it with a wing. Both aircraft split apart and fell into the river.

The wreckage of the Liberty Helicopters aircraft was pulled from the river. Crews have located the plane and will try again to recover the wreckage Monday.

The five tourists were from the Bologna, Italy, area. They were identified as Michele Norelli, 51; his son Filippo Norelli, 16; Fabio Gallazzi, 49; his wife, Tiziana Pedroni, 44; and their son Giacomo Gallazzi, 15.

Liberty Helicopters identified the pilot as Jeremy Clarke of Lanoka Harbor, N.J.

The plane’s pilot was identified as 60-year-old Steven Altman of Ambler, Pa. Also aboard were 49-year-old Daniel Altman of Dresher, Pa., and his 16-year-old son, Douglas.