The NYPD Harbor Unit and FDNY Marine Units rescued 10 people from a seaplane in the East River Friday afternoon.
Officials say the plane tried to take off for the Hamptons three times around 5:30 p.m. but couldn't get more than a few feet into the air.
Police towed the plane to the East 23rd Street Seaport and got everyone safely on land.
One of the passengers was comedy writer Bill Lawrence, best known for creating the sitcom "Scrubs."
He credits the pilot for keeping everyone calm, but says this was no laughing matter.
"It was scary when it happened, but every, there was a lot of good New York City emergency personnel, they were great and nice. The pilot and his co-pilot were great. And once it landed and everybody was OK and everybody got out, it was kind of just waiting for the Coast Guard," Lawrence said.
"The plane attempted to take off three times. On the third time, it hit the water, fracturing three struts on the left side of the plane, which caused the plane to list," said Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Gala of the FDNY.
Nobody was hurt or needed any medical attention.