A helicopter crashed – in front of many spectators – into the East River in New York at 01:15 Finnish time, around 7 pm on Sunday evening local time.

At least two people died. Three people are reported to be in critical condition.

It was one of New York's well-known red tourist helicopters, from the Liberty tourism company, which, according to eyewitnesses, appeared to be trying to make an emergency landing when it hit the water hard and overturned.

According to the AP news agency, this helicopter had been rented by a group of photographers for a photo shoot.

The crash occurred near Gracie Mansion, the mayor's residence at the East River and 88th Street. The helicopter is a Eurocopter AS350.

Source: yle.fi