Helicopter Crashes in New York City's East River; 1 Person Missing
A helicopter has crashed into New York City's East River Tuesday afternoon, and, according to various media reports it is believed that five people were aboard the craft when it crashed, although one person has not yet been accounted for.
The chopper went down off 34th Street and First Ave. around 3:20 p.m. local time, according to reports.
The New York Times reports that local television station WCBS-TV aired footage of a man in a suit swimming and rescue divers carrying a second man toward Pier 11.
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NYPD Spokesman Paul Browne told WCBS-TV that "two female passengers were taken to Bellevue Hospital - one in cardiac arrest and the other in respiratory arrest. Another man was also taken to a nearby hospital."
According to ABC News, the helicopter hit the water and submerged quickly. The news network also reported that the helicopter was not visible above water during rescue operations.
"At least two people were seriously injured in the crash," CNN's Wolf Blitzer reported as the network aired dramatic footage of the rescue.
Blitzer added that officials had informed him that the East River's temperature was about 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
ABC News reported that "three people have reportedly been pulled from shore" and that another person pulled onto a raft by a rescuer "appeared to be unresponsive."
Based on television footage of the scene, the New York Fire Department (FDNY) and EMS and a rescue helicopter were involved in rescue operations. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration were said to be en route to the scene to investigate the crash.
It was believed that a fifth passenger was currently unaccounted for, according to reports citing the FDNY's scanner.
WCBS-TV reports that the private helicopter was a believed to be a Bell 206. The chopper reportedly missed its landing, ending up just short of the helipad located on Pier 11.
