One death is reported after a helicopter crashed on the rooftop of a New York City highrise
One person is reported dead after a helicopter crashed onto the roof of a 54-story building Monday afternoon in Midtown Manhattan, New York City police and fire officials said. The crash sparked a two-alarm fire at the building, located at 787 7th Avenue, between 51st and 52nd Streets, not far from Times Square.
A New York City Police Department source told CBS News that the helicopter crash-landed on the roof but did not go into the building. The weather was foggy and rainy at the time.
The helicopter took off at around 1:32 p.m. from the 34th St. heliport and crashed 11 minutes later, according to Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill. It’s unclear where it was headed.
One person was aboard the helicopter. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the pilot was presumed to be the person who was killed, but official identification was still pending.
The FDNY reports that the fire had been extinguished. Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said that some fuel leaked from the crash but that it was no longer an issue.
