Man arrested after boat capsizes near Statue of Liberty killing woman and infant

The operator of a boat that overturned and capsized near the Statue of Liberty, killing a woman and a five-month-old baby, has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, New York police said.

Officials said a large search and rescue operation was launched after the incident near the New York Harbour on Saturday night.

Coast Guard investigators are also determining whether the boat was illegally chartered.

The names of passengers and the specific cause of the incident have not been released.

The rescue involved two Coast Guard boats, four fire department boats, two police boats and a police helicopter, the US Coast Guard said.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, officials said.

"We are extremely grateful for the heroic, swift actions of our partner agencies and Good Samaritan vessel who assisted in rescuing survivors from the water," said Capt Doreen McCarthy of the Coast Guard.