Helicopter pilot in ‘mayday’ call

A PILOT who survived when his helicopter went down in Manhattan’s East River, killing five passengers, reported engine failure in an emergency radio transmission, it has emerged.

The pilot is heard saying ‘Mayday, mayday, mayday’ during the crash on Sunday night. He reported ‘an engine failure over the East River’.

The pilot freed himself and was rescued by a tugboat, but emergency divers had to remove the five passengers who were still inside the chartered helicopter.