Copter crash may have been due to passenger

NEW YORK — A passenger’s bag might have inadvertently hit an emergency fuel shut-off button and caused the helicopter crash Sunday night that killed five people, according to a report.

Pilot Richard Vance, 33, told investigators that the mishap led to the crash into New York’s East River about 7 p.m. Sunday, Police Commissioner James O’Neill said Monday.

Five people and the pilot were on a Liberty Helicopters aircraft chartered for a private photo shoot.

Vance was able to deploy a raft and get himself to safety. He made a mayday call to LaGuardia Airport saying that the aircraft experienced engine failure.