CenterHigh
WDSU New Orleans (Hearst)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
← Today's headlines
27 sources checked · Left, Center, and Right included · 2h ago
Different Spin
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
4 Left19 Center4 Right
DIFFERENT SPIN
HOW EACH SIDE WORDED IT
Left-leaningCenter-leftEight people rescued after seaplane comes down in East River off New York City
The IndependentMostly Factual
Right-leaningPlane carrying 10 people crashes into New York City’s East River as emergency responders race to the scene
The SunMixed
crashescitysemergency
Center baseline · 
WDSU New Orleans (Hearst)HighSmall plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
As of July 5, 2026 at 7:26 PM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.
What happened A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
The headline split The left frames it as "Eight people rescued after seaplane comes down in East River off New York City". The right frames it as "Plane carrying 10 people crashes into New York City’s East River as emergency responders...".
Match confidence High confidence. 27 sources checked, Left/Center/Right all represented. Best read as a clear framing signal — not a fact-check.
Same-event confidenceHigh
27 sources across Left, Center, and Right all describe the same event.
Framing confidenceModerate
57/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.
WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED
Left / center-leftEight people rescued after seaplane comes down in East River off New York City
The Independent · Center-left · News report
CenterSmall plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
WDSU New Orleans (Hearst) · Center · News report
Right / center-rightAt Least 10 Rescued As Plane Crashes Into The East River In NYC
100 Percent Fed Up · Right · News report
SEE THE HEADLINES
Open source
Center-leftMostly Factual
The IndependentNews report · Jul 5, 7:26 PM
Eight people rescued after seaplane comes down in East River off New York City
The Kodiak 100 seaplane ‘titled into the water,’ police said
RightLow
100 Percent Fed UpNews report · Jul 5, 7:04 PM
BREAKING: At Least 10 Rescued As Plane Crashes Into The East River In NYC
A seaplane made a hard landing in New York City's East River on Sunday, triggering a fast FDNY and FAA response.
Center-rightMixed
Daily MailNews report · Jul 5, 6:37 PM
Passengers onboard plane that plummeted into the East River are identified after making miracle escape from the jaws of death
Terrified residents of the Big Apple in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan watched as the plane landed in the choppy water and partially capsized.
CenterHigh
UPIWire story · Jul 5, 6:27 PM
Seaplane carrying 10 crash lands in East River
A seaplane crash landed into the East River in New York City near Brooklyn on Sunday and at least two people are being evaluated for minor injuries.
CenterMostly Factual
ABC7 New YorkNews report · Jul 5, 6:18 PM
Seaplane carrying 10 people makes hard landing in East River
The FDNY says the plane was carrying 10 civilians. It says the plane is "upright in the water and being towed back to dock." No injuries have been reported.
Show all 27 sources
CenterHigh
WCVB Boston (Hearst)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WMUR9 (Hearst, Manchester NH)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WTAE Pittsburgh (Hearst)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WBAL Baltimore (Hearst)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
KCRA3 Sacramento (Hearst)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WISN12 Milwaukee (Hearst)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WLWT Cincinnati (Hearst)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WGAL8 (Hearst, Lancaster)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WXII12 (Hearst, Greensboro)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WYFF4 (Hearst, Greenville)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WMTW8 (Hearst, Portland ME)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
KMBC9 (Hearst, Kansas City)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WGAL Susquehanna / KOAT7 (Hearst, Albuquerque)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
WMUR Hearst WLKY32 (Louisville)News report · Jul 5, 5:58 PM
Small plane makes hard landing into New York’s East River, officials say
A seaplane made a hard landing in the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan just after noon Sunday.
CenterHigh
The Star-Ledger (NJ.com)News report · Jul 5, 5:50 PM
Seaplane makes a rough landing in New York City’s East River with no injuries reported
The plane carrying 10 people made it upright and was being towed back to dock, according to officials.
Center-leftMostly Factual
NBC News - US NewsNews report · Jul 5, 5:50 PM
‘Mayday, mayday, mayday’: Seaplane makes hard landing in East River, injuring two
A seaplane made a hard landing in New York City’s East River, injuring two of the 10 people on board the aircraft. NBC News’ Valerie Castro reports on the air traffic control audio and vide...
Center-leftMostly Factual
Metro UKNews report · Jul 5, 5:13 PM
Plane carrying eight plunges into New York City’s East River
eightplungescitys
Small plane with 8 passengers crash-lands in New York City (Picture: X) A small plane has smashed into a river surrounding New York City. At least eight people have been rescued after the s...
Center-leftHigh
The Seattle TimesNews report · Jul 5, 4:50 PM
Seaplane makes a rough landing in New York City’s East River with no injuries reported
A seaplane made a rough landing in New York City’s East River, alarming bystanders though there were no injuries reported.
Center-rightMixed
The Washington TimesNews report · Jul 5, 4:49 PM
Seaplane makes a rough landing in New York City's East River with no injuries reported
A seaplane made a rough landing in New York City's East River Sunday, alarming bystanders but resulting in no apparent injuries, according to city authorities.
RightMixed
The SunNews report · Jul 5, 4:38 PM
Plane carrying 10 people crashes into New York City’s East River as emergency responders race to the scene
crashescitysemergencyresponders
A SEAPLANE has crashed into New York City's East River as first responders and vessels on the river race to rescue passengers. The plane, reported to be carrying 8 passengers and two pilots...
CenterHigh
WPIX PIX11 (Nexstar, New York)News report · Jul 5, 4:31 PM
Seaplane makes hard landing in East River
MANHATTAN, N. Y (PIX11) — A seaplane made a hard landing in the water near the New York Skyport with 10 people aboard, fire officials said. The call came in at 12:01 p.m. on Sunday reportin...
Details57/99 Wording Gap · High confidence · 27 sources
57/99 Wording GapHigh confidence27 sources · 3 bias bucketsStable · 27 sources · all three buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report, Wire story
SOURCE MAP CHANGES
Jul 5, 4:31 PM: WPIX PIX11 (Nexstar, New York) joined the source map.
Jul 5, 4:38 PM: The Sun joined the source map.
Jul 5, 4:49 PM: The Washington Times joined the source map.
Jul 5, 4:50 PM: The Seattle Times joined the source map.
Now: Wording Gap is 57/99 and story health is stable · 27 sources · all three buckets · comparable news format.