Helicopter Crashes In East River Near Roosevelt Island This Evening – At Least 2 People Died, One Rescued

Breaking News: At least two people died in a helicopter crash in the East River off Manhattan. Divers were searching the frigid water. https://t.co/7pAVPsTYAc

The New York Times (@nytimes) March 12, 2018

Received text message from a Roosevelt Island resident this evening saying:

Have you seen the massive police and fire boat and helicopter activity on the north end of Roosevelt Island? 8 Boats responding, at least 2 helicopters. The entire FDR Northbound shut down…. Frogmen in the water.

Another resident shares this photo and adds:

Helicopter in water, ties to boat. Upside down

Irina Hage shares picture

video

and reports:

Very frightening and tragic helicopter accident near Roosevelt Island.

According to the Twitterverse:

Scary. Helicopter just crashed into the East River up by 91st St on the Roosevelt Island side. Search light choppers & major action happening. Quick response my #NYC finest. Hope all are ok pic.twitter.com/C5d5gNu84a

(@DropTha_Mic25) March 11, 2018

@cnn @FoxNews just witnessed a helicopter crash into the East River .. hope everyones ok. Caught it all on tape! pic.twitter.com/saHOMTLR69

JJ Magers (@JJmagers) March 11, 2018

.@NTSB says it is monitoring the helicopter crash in NYCs East River. FAA says A Eurocopter AS350 went down in the East River near the northern end of Roosevelt Island at about 7 pm today. That type of chopper is one that is often used for sightseeing tours.

Kris Van Cleave (@krisvancleave) March 12, 2018

From Roosevelt Island, you can hear and see a lot of ambulance trucks responding to helicopter crash in East River pic.twitter.com/ng3tZr5GPj

Madina Toure (@madinatoure) March 12, 2018

Witnesses say one person aboard helicopter that went down near Roosevelt Island, climbed out of the helicopter and used a raft to get to safety pic.twitter.com/vvAJeHLFAR

Myles Miller (@MylesMill) March 11, 2018

Two people from helicopter rushed on stretchers – one person can be seen getting active CPR. This is about two hours after helicopter crashed in east river. @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/SKrfgt4Qno

Bryan Llenas (@BryanLlenas) March 12, 2018

UPDATE 10:10 PM:

WATCH: As chopper goes down into the east river. @PIX11News #PIX11NEWS pic.twitter.com/FxFXWR6jIy

jennbisramtv (@jennbisramtv) March 11, 2018

An update on the helicopter crash in the East River being provided by @NYPDONeill and @FDNY Commissioner Nigro. Watch: pic.twitter.com/lzacSjiCT2

NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) March 12, 2018

UPDATE 10:50 PM:

The @FDNY commissioner said first responders faced a difficult rescue Sunday night after a helicopter crashed in the #EastRiver five passengers were tightly harnessed. https://t.co/opxD0QhV0s pic.twitter.com/Hkg9Y7WAeb

Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) March 12, 2018

UPDATE 3/12:

The passengers of the helicopter that crashed into New York’s East River were tightly harnessed and had to be cut out by emergency responders. None of them survived. https://t.co/BQntwexcs9

The New York Times (@nytimes) March 12, 2018

UPDATE 2:35 PM:

Crews recover the helicopter from last nights deadly crash in New York Citys East River; all five passengers aboard were killed. https://t.co/9KydRo5Bpp pic.twitter.com/5Ea3LmjC4P

ABC News (@ABC) March 12, 2018

UPDATE 8 PM: