Sightseeing Helicopter, Small Plane Crash Over Hudson River, Killing Nine, Including a Child (VIDEO)

Tragedy has struck New York City again. A small plane collided with a sightseeing helicopter, owned by Liberty Tours and was carrying Italian tourists over the Hudson River earlier today. The debris was reportedly scattered for miles and forced people on the New Jersey waterfront to run for cover. Authorities have said they believe all nine people aboard the two aircraft have been killed.

A small plane collided with a sightseeing helicopter carrying Italian tourists over the Hudson River on Saturday, scattering debris in the water and forcing people on the New Jersey waterfront to scamper for cover. Authorities believe all nine people aboard the two aircraft were killed.

The collision happened just after noon and was characterized by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg as "not survivable." The two aircraft went down just south of the stretch of river where a US Airways jet landed safely seven months ago. But this time such luck would not be on the side of these passengers.

Mayor Bloomberg said that two bodies were recovered in the water, one floating free and one in the wreckage, and other bodies were spotted in the debris in the river. Bloomberg also said that the crash victims included five Italian tourists and a pilot on the helicopter and the three people on the plane, including a child. This is such a tragedy.

Maya Williams Wins Miss Black New Jersey Pageant, Why Do We Need Black Beauty Pageants?

Could someone tell me why we still have a Miss Black USA pageant and a Miss Black New Jersey pageant? What if there were a Miss White USA pageant and a Miss White New Jersey pageant? Would the NAACP and others protest? Apparently, Maya Williams is the latest winner. She said that she was searching the web for information on college scholarships and came across the Miss Black New Jersey Foundation website, which was soliciting applicants for a contest; the winner of that would go on to compete in the Miss Black USA pageant. The national winner would receive an academic scholarship in addition to other prizes and opportunities.

“It's a dream for me to be a part of this,” she said. “I feel blessed and honored, and I'm going to represent the state to the best of my ability.”

Williams, 19, is a sophomore at Spelman College in Atlanta, where she is majoring in economics and minoring in management and organization, as well as dance. “I have so many dreams,” she said about her future. “I want to own a dance studio, work in the entertainment industry in music or movies, work for a Gospel music channel, go to school for my M.B.A., get a Ph.D. in dance and promote good messages in the media.” Source: My Central Jersey

I am sure that she is a smart young lady and I don't blame her for trying to get scholarship funds for higher education. The problem I have is that these pageants are passe. We don't need a "Black Miss USA" or a "White Miss USA." Why not be satisfied with just a "Miss USA Pageant" as we currently have now?

Maya Williams Wins Miss Black New Jersey Pageant, Why Do We Need Black Beauty Pageants?

Could someone tell me why we still have a Miss Black USA pageant and a Miss Black New Jersey pageant? What if there were a Miss White USA pageant and a Miss White New Jersey pageant? Would the NAACP and others protest? Apparently, Maya Williams is the latest winner. She said that she was searching the web for information on college scholarships and came across the Miss Black New Jersey Foundation website, which was soliciting applicants for a contest; the winner of that would go on to compete in the Miss Black USA pageant. The national winner would receive an academic scholarship in addition to other prizes and opportunities.

“It's a dream for me to be a part of this,” she said. “I feel blessed and honored, and I'm going to represent the state to the best of my ability.”

Williams, 19, is a sophomore at Spelman College in Atlanta, where she is majoring in economics and minoring in management and organization, as well as dance. “I have so many dreams,” she said about her future. “I want to own a dance studio, work in the entertainment industry in music or movies, work for a Gospel music channel, go to school for my M.B.A., get a Ph.D. in dance and promote good messages in the media.” Source: My Central Jersey

I am sure that she is a smart young lady and I don't blame her for trying to get scholarship funds for higher education. The problem I have is that these pageants are passe. We don't need a "Black Miss USA" or a "White Miss USA." Why not be satisfied with just a "Miss USA Pageant" as we currently have now?