Copter tragedy leaves five passengers dead
ALL five passengers on board a helicopter that crashed into New York City’s East River have been confirmed dead.
The pilot reported engine failure in an emergency radio message and can be heard shouting: “Mayday, mayday, mayday.”
He was able to escape the crash on Sunday after the aircraft flipped over in the water, police said.
He was rescued by a tugboat. A video posted on Twitter, taken by a witness, shows the red helicopter – which had been hired for a photo shoot – landing hard in the water and then capsizing with its rotors slapping at the water.