We’re hearing more heartbreaking details about the tragic midair collision of a helicopter and small plane this weekend over the Hudson River in New York City.

Divers have so far recovered seven of the nine bodies of people killed in Saturday’s crash, which occurred shortly after a Piper Lance airplane took off from Teterboro, NJ, with two passengers and one pilot aboard heading for the beach in Ocean City, NJ. The plane was piloted by Steven Altman, 60. Flying with him were his brother, Daniel, 49, and Daniel’s 15-year-old son, Doug. The plane crashed into a tour helicopter that took off from New York City for a 12-minute flight. Onboard the helicopter were the pilot and five Italian tourists. One of the tourists, Michele Norelli, 51, was celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary, but his wife, Silvia Rigamonti, stayed behind because she got cold feet at the last minute. Their 16-year-old son, Filippo, perished in the crash as well, as did their close family friends Fabio Gallazzi, 49, his wife, Tiziana Pedrone, 45, and their 15-year-old son, Giacomo Gallazzi. The two families were from the Bologna area and their sons were friends. 

Davide Norelli, the 23-year-old son of Norelli and Rigamonti, was in Italy having dinner with friends Saturday when he saw a TV report about the crash. He called his father’s cell phone and was relieved when his mother answered, but then he received the horrific news that his father and brother were dead.

The helicopter pilot, Jeremy Clarke, was also celebrating. He recently received U.S. citizenship and was planning to marry his girlfriend, Danielle Granahan, before he was killed, reports the New York Daily News. New Zealand-born Clarke, 32, who was living in Lanoka Harbor, NJ, was described by coworkers as "the sweetest guy in the world" who "followed all the rules" when it came to flying helicopters. 

"Jeremy was textbook, 110% correct, yet to get picked out of the sky and get killed — it’s sickening and horrible," Ben Lane, a fellow pilot for Liberty Helicopters who tried to warn Clarke the plane was coming at him from behind, told the newspaper.

Granahan and her family so far have not spoken to the press, and Clarke’s parents arrived in New York this morning. Clarke’s uncle in New Zealand, Juan Ferandoes, told The Newark Star-Ledger the family had not yet made funeral arrangements and were still coming to terms with the news."

"We saw his mom and dad off last night. They are just distraught," Ferandoes said. "We are all just absolutely distraught."

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of all the victims of this horrible tragedy.