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At least 2 dead after helicopter crashes in east river off Manhattan, New York (VIDEO) 2 dead after helicopter crashes in east river off Manhattan, New York (VIDEO)
(35 minutes later)
At least two people have been killed and several remain missing after a passenger helicopter crashed in New York City, according to officials and media reports. Two people have been killed and three hospitalized in a critical condition after a passenger helicopter crashed in New York City, officials have confirmed.
One person has been rescued from the water alive so far, while two more were confirmed dead, according to New York Mayor Bill de Blasio’s spokesman Eric Phillips. A total of six people were on board the helicopter, including the pilot, New York Police Department Commissioner James O’Neill told a press briefing at the East 34th Street Heliport. He said the aircraft was owned by Liberty Helicopter Tours and was on a private charter for a photo shoot.
Meanwhile, the coastguard said that five people had been recovered from the crashed six-seat helicopter. "Five people have been recovered by New York City Police Department and the New York City Fire Department divers, and their conditions are currently unknown," it said. “The pilot freed himself, the other five did not,” Fire Department of New York Commissioner Daniel Nigro said. “Police and fire department entered the water and removed the other five." Three of them were in a critical condition in hospital and the remaining two were pronounced dead at the scene.
“The pilot is OK, taken to the hospital and checked out,” Nigro added, but said authorities so far “don’t have an outcome” on the other victims. He said it took divers an hour to free them, working in 50 feet of water with a 4mph current and a water temperature of below 40 degrees fahrenheit.
Emergency divers were seen in the water around the partially-submerged and upside-down wreck of the Eurocopter AS350. The Fire Department tweeted that its crews were present at the site, near 91st Street in Manhattan.Emergency divers were seen in the water around the partially-submerged and upside-down wreck of the Eurocopter AS350. The Fire Department tweeted that its crews were present at the site, near 91st Street in Manhattan.
An unverified amateur video of the crash has emerged, showing a red helicopter coming down with a large splash at dusk, before capsizing onto its right side. It was captured by an alleged eyewitness, who posted it in his Twitter acount, ‘JJ Magers’. An amateur video of the crash has emerged, showing a red helicopter coming down with a large splash at dusk, before capsizing onto its right side. It was captured by an alleged eyewitness, who posted it in his Twitter acount, ‘JJ Magers’.
Roosevelt Island resident Xinran Jiang said she and her husband also saw the red helicopter descending rapidly at about 7:08 pm, the New York Times reports. “It almost looked like it was landing,” Jiang said. “It wasn’t moving fast. We were curious where it was going to land. Then the next minute, it was diving into the river.”Roosevelt Island resident Xinran Jiang said she and her husband also saw the red helicopter descending rapidly at about 7:08 pm, the New York Times reports. “It almost looked like it was landing,” Jiang said. “It wasn’t moving fast. We were curious where it was going to land. Then the next minute, it was diving into the river.”
Arpi Gettings said she was finishing dinner with friends in her apartment on East 92nd Street in Manhattan when they witnessed the crash. “It caught our attention because it was going really fast toward the river,” she said. “Then it went more steady and it crashed into the river.” Gettings said she saw what she took to be an orange life raft near the crashed chopper, but not whether anyone made it out or to the life raft.Arpi Gettings said she was finishing dinner with friends in her apartment on East 92nd Street in Manhattan when they witnessed the crash. “It caught our attention because it was going really fast toward the river,” she said. “Then it went more steady and it crashed into the river.” Gettings said she saw what she took to be an orange life raft near the crashed chopper, but not whether anyone made it out or to the life raft.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft went down off the northern end of Roosevelt Island, between Manhattan and Long Island, around 7:00pm. The agency said it was investigating the accident.The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft went down off the northern end of Roosevelt Island, between Manhattan and Long Island, around 7:00pm. The agency said it was investigating the accident.
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