Helicopter crashes into New York skyscraper, killing one
- 5 years ago
A helicopter has crashed on top of a building in Manhattan, killing one person.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to our Hong Yoo.
So Yoo, how did this crash happen and could you give us the rest of the details?
It was shortly before 2 p.m. on Monday in New York when the helicopter made a crash landing onto the roof of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper.
The sky was rainy and foggy at the time hiding the upper floors of the 229-meter AXA Equitable building.
Around 40 minutes after the crash, the city fire department said one person was killed in the crash.
Officials have preliminarily identified the victim as Tim McCormack, the helicopter's pilot.
The crash evoked memories of the 9/11 attacks but New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio said there was no indication of terrorism.
"What we do know is that one person died in this helicopter crash. That person is presumed to be the pilot but we are still waiting for absolute confirmation of that fact. There does not appear to have been any passenger in the helicopter but again we're waiting for absolute confirmation of that fact. We do not know the cause of this incident. I'm sure you're going to all want to ask that. We do not know the cause. But again we have no indication that there was any terror nexus here."
People who were in the building when the crash happened were evacuated and the police have closed off a large part of midtown Manhattan including New York's iconic Times Square and many Broadway theaters.
"It was like a big vibration, just crashed into the building. So they wanted everyone to evacuate the building."
"I was just doing what I was supposed to do and I felt the building shake. It was a big shake. I thought there was something wrong with the elevator at first. And then I seen everybody come down in all the elevators. Big packed elevators. About 20-30 people in one elevator."
The National Transportation Safety Board has sent an investigator to find out what caused the crash and the investigation is ongoing.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the White House is working closely with New York City and the state of New York.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to our Hong Yoo.
So Yoo, how did this crash happen and could you give us the rest of the details?
It was shortly before 2 p.m. on Monday in New York when the helicopter made a crash landing onto the roof of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper.
The sky was rainy and foggy at the time hiding the upper floors of the 229-meter AXA Equitable building.
Around 40 minutes after the crash, the city fire department said one person was killed in the crash.
Officials have preliminarily identified the victim as Tim McCormack, the helicopter's pilot.
The crash evoked memories of the 9/11 attacks but New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio said there was no indication of terrorism.
"What we do know is that one person died in this helicopter crash. That person is presumed to be the pilot but we are still waiting for absolute confirmation of that fact. There does not appear to have been any passenger in the helicopter but again we're waiting for absolute confirmation of that fact. We do not know the cause of this incident. I'm sure you're going to all want to ask that. We do not know the cause. But again we have no indication that there was any terror nexus here."
People who were in the building when the crash happened were evacuated and the police have closed off a large part of midtown Manhattan including New York's iconic Times Square and many Broadway theaters.
"It was like a big vibration, just crashed into the building. So they wanted everyone to evacuate the building."
"I was just doing what I was supposed to do and I felt the building shake. It was a big shake. I thought there was something wrong with the elevator at first. And then I seen everybody come down in all the elevators. Big packed elevators. About 20-30 people in one elevator."
The National Transportation Safety Board has sent an investigator to find out what caused the crash and the investigation is ongoing.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the White House is working closely with New York City and the state of New York.