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One dead in helicopter crash on NYC skyscraper | One dead in helicopter crash on NYC skyscraper |
(32 minutes later) | |
The pilot of a helicopter died after it crash-landed on top of a skyscraper in Manhattan, fire officials say. | |
The incident sparked a rooftop fire, which was quickly extinguished. Some workers were evacuated from the tower, but none were hurt. | The incident sparked a rooftop fire, which was quickly extinguished. Some workers were evacuated from the tower, but none were hurt. |
The office building close to Times Square shook from the impact, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. | |
New Yorkers, he added, have "a level of PTSD from 9/11" when they hear news of an aircraft crash in Manhattan. | |
The pilot has been named by local media as Tim McCormack. | The pilot has been named by local media as Tim McCormack. |
He was the only person aboard the twin-engine Agusta A109E helicopter, said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). | He was the only person aboard the twin-engine Agusta A109E helicopter, said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). |
The incident happened at around 14:00 (18:00 GMT) on a rainy and foggy Monday on Seventh Avenue. | |
Governor Cuomo said after preliminary reports that there was no indication of foul play. | |
"There was a helicopter that made a forced landing, emergency landing, or landed on the roof of the building for one reason or another," he told reporters at the scene. | |
"There was a fire that happened when the helicopter hit the roof. People that were in the building said that they felt the building shake." | "There was a fire that happened when the helicopter hit the roof. People that were in the building said that they felt the building shake." |
He added: "If you're a New Yorker, you have a level of PTSD, right, from 9/11. And I remember that morning all too well. | He added: "If you're a New Yorker, you have a level of PTSD, right, from 9/11. And I remember that morning all too well. |
"So as soon as you hear an aircraft hit a building, I think my mind goes where every New Yorker's mind goes." | "So as soon as you hear an aircraft hit a building, I think my mind goes where every New Yorker's mind goes." |
Speaking at the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump said the crash was "a big tragedy" and "a very sad event". | Speaking at the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump said the crash was "a big tragedy" and "a very sad event". |
No debris was visible on the pavement or road below the scene of the AXA Equitable building, which is about 750ft (229m) and more than 50 storeys high. | No debris was visible on the pavement or road below the scene of the AXA Equitable building, which is about 750ft (229m) and more than 50 storeys high. |
Michaela Dudley, of Hoboken, New Jersey, was working in the building that the helicopter crashed into and described feeling "a small tremor". | Michaela Dudley, of Hoboken, New Jersey, was working in the building that the helicopter crashed into and described feeling "a small tremor". |
"I started hearing the blare of sirens and knew something bad had happened," the 30-year-old lawyer said. | "I started hearing the blare of sirens and knew something bad had happened," the 30-year-old lawyer said. |
"There was a flood of sirens outside and an announcement for us to leave the building. I grabbed my backpack and cell phone. | "There was a flood of sirens outside and an announcement for us to leave the building. I grabbed my backpack and cell phone. |
"The stairwell was packed with people trying to get out and so it was a really slow process. We didn't know what was happening so people were getting a bit panicky." | "The stairwell was packed with people trying to get out and so it was a really slow process. We didn't know what was happening so people were getting a bit panicky." |
Nicolas Estevez told Reuters news agency he had been standing across the street when a 12in (30cm) chunk of metal that may have come off the helicopter landed on the pavement just feet away. | |
The aircraft took off from a heliport at Manhattan's east side at 13:32 and crashed 11 minutes later, officials said. | |
According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, there is no helicopter landing pad on the roof of the AXA Equitable tower at 787 Seventh Avenue where the aircraft crashed. | |
New York Commissioner James O'Neill told a news conference the helicopter had been engaged in "executive travel" at the time of the crash. | |
The city's top police officer said the aircraft's reason for flying in such poor weather would be "part of the investigation". | |
Mr de Blasio said it was "an unusual situation for sure", and the helicopter would have needed special permits from LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York City. | Mr de Blasio said it was "an unusual situation for sure", and the helicopter would have needed special permits from LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York City. |
The building is about half a mile from Trump Tower, and airspace has been under a flight restriction since he became president. | |
The mayor described the helicopter as "obliterated". | |
"There is no indication at this time that this was an act of terror and there is no ongoing threat to New York City," he added. | |
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident. | |
Last month a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, falling just short of a heliport. | Last month a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, falling just short of a heliport. |
Five people were killed in 2018 when a sightseeing helicopter plunged into the East River. | Five people were killed in 2018 when a sightseeing helicopter plunged into the East River. |