1:21
- ABC News
- March 12, 2018
Helicopter crash in NYC's East River kills 5
Five people died after a helicopter crashed into the East River.
1:21
Afterward, Nazarian said members of the Coast Guard arrived in an attempt to help the helicopter passengers.
\"We're just hoping they survived,\" she added.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/new-york-helicopter-crash-03-gty-jc-180311_4x3t_384.jpg\")
The Federal Aviation Administration tweeted that it was investigating the crash and the helicopter was \"reportedly inverted in the water.\" It added that the National Transportation Safety Board would lead the investigation.
Police and divers braved the 50-foot-deep river, which was about 40 degrees Fahrenheit and moving at a speed of 4 mph on Sunday night.
Two of those who died were pronounced dead at the scene, Nigro said.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/new-york-helicopter-crash-02-ap-jc-180311_4x3t_384.jpg\")
\"We're all still ... like really shaken up,\" another witness told ABC News. \"There was a lot of screams. It was just really horrifying.\"
New York Police Department Commissioner James O'Neill said there were \"dozens of calls\" reporting the helicopter crash.
Soon after the helicopter went down, a series of dispatches captured in real-time over FDNY's scanners by Broadcastify.com broke down the initial emergency response.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/helicopter-crashing-rt-ps-180311_4x3t_384.jpg\")
\"We got reports from NYPD that a helicopter is upside down in the water,\" a dispatcher stated.
Divers from both the NYPD and FDNY then raced into the water, according to the dispatcher.
O'Neill also praised the efforts of a private tugboat, which arrived on the scene before first responders.
\"I want to thank the crew from the tugboat,\" O'Neill said. \"They were the first boat on the scene.\"
He also confirmed that emergency crews arrived at the crash scene by both air and sea within five minutes.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was briefed about the crash.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/new-york-helicopter-crash-11-gty-jc-180311_4x3t_384.jpg\")
According to FlightRadar24.com, a website that tracks flight patterns, the helicopter -- tail number N350LH -- took off from Kearny, New Jersey.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/new-york-helicopter-crash-09-ht-jc-180311_4x3t_384.jpg\")
It flew by the Statue of Liberty -- where someone aboard another chopper snapped photos of the chopper -- before heading toward the East River.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/new-york-helicopter-crash-07-ht-jc-180311_4x3t_384.jpg\")
It flew over the Brooklyn Bridge, according to the radar path, before losing contact and crashing in the river.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/new-york-helicopter-crash-08-ht-jc-180311_4x3t_384.jpg\")
The National Transportation Safety Board is sending members to investigate, and is expected to hold a news conference on Monday.
A Eurocopter AS350 went down in the East River near Roosevelt Island in #NYC at 7pm today. The helicopter reportedly is inverted in the water. Local authorities will confirm the number of people on board, their names and conditions. The #FAA is investigating.
— The FAA (@FAANews) March 11, 2018
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/helicopter-crash-ho-ps1-180311-jpg_20180311-210401_4x3t_384.jpg\")
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/helicopter-crash-rescue-boats-gty-ps-180311_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Calls to Liberty Helicopter seeking comment on the crash were not immediately returned.
ABC News' Karma Allen, Josh Margolin and Mark Crudele contributed to this report.
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