Video: Helicopter crashes in New York, 5 dead
Follow UsA helicopter carrying several people crashed in New York City's East River on Sunday (March 11) and police and fire department divers were in the water around the partially submerged aircraft, according to officials and media reports.
The New York Police Department confirmed that all five passengers died in the crash and one survived.
@cnn @FoxNews just witnessed a helicopter crash into the East River .. hope everyone’s ok. Caught it all on tape! pic.twitter.com/saHOMTLR69
— JJ Magers (@JJmagers) March 11, 2018
Eric Phillips, a spokesman for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, said the mayor had been briefed. "NYPD and FDNY divers already on the scene and in the water," Phillips tweeted.
The aircraft -- a Eurocopter AS350 -- went down near Roosevelt Island around 7 pm Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement.
The agency has informed that the helicopter is currently upside down in the water and investigations are underway.
The pilot was able to get out and climb aboard a raft — but five others remained trapped inside the upside-down helicopter, according to reports.
Further, reports say that the helicopter submerges into the water within minutes. The chopper was Eric Phillips, spokesman for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, said the mayor had been briefed. "NYPD and FDNY divers already on the scene and in the water," Phillips tweeted.