History of helicopter crashes in New York

A deadly helicopter crash on the roof of a New York City skyscraper on Monday was the latest in a series of accidents involving choppers in the largest US city over the years.

The pilot was the only person aboard the chopper when it plunged into the building and burst into flames, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference. No injuries, either to people in the building or on the ground, have been reported.

The crash, which sent people streaming out of the building within seconds, reminded him of September 11, Estevez said. "I saw the explosion and the smoke coming out," he said.

On May 16, 1977, five people were killed when a helicopter blade broke off a chopper on a helipad at the top of a skyscraper atop General Central Terminal, according to media reports at the time.

Most of the victims died when they were struck by the blade on the helipad, before part of the blade plummeted to the street and killed a woman.

The accident, at what was then called the Pan Am building and since renamed the MetLife building, led authorities to ban helipads from Manhattan rooftops.

 A helicopter crashed onto the fog-shrouded roof of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday, killing the pilot and unnerving a city still scarred by memories of the September 11, 2001, airplane attacks on the World Trade Center.

"The helicopter is pretty obliterated at this point. It was obviously a very hard hit," de Blasio said, adding nothing indicated "an act of terrorism."

Colgate-Palmolive executive Craig Tate died when the helicopter in which he was a passenger crashed into the East River off Manhattan, according to media reports at the time.

A total of four people were aboard the chopper, including one who was badly hurt.

Nine people died when a helicopter and a small plane collided in mid-air and both aircraft fell into the Hudson River next to Manhattan. Five Italian tourists in the helicopter were among the victims.

Five passengers aboard a helicopter died when it crashed into the east river, while the pilot survived. The open-door flight was a private "photo shoot" charter.

The pilot freed himself and was rescued, but the passengers were wearing tight harnesses they were unable to cut and remove.

The incident led federal authorities to announce such "doors off" flights would be prohibited unless passengers had quick-release restraints.

A helicopter crashed into the Hudson River next to New York City shortly after taking off from Manhattan, injuring the pilot and a dockworker on 15 May 2019.