The pilot of a helicopter that crash-landed on the roof of a 54-storey building in Manhattan has died, according to the New York City fire department.
Officials believe the pilot was the only person aboard at the time.
The real estate company that used the helicopter confirmed Monday that the pilot was 58-year-old Tim McCormack, of Clinton Corners, New York.
American Continental Properties said McCormack had flown for the company for the past five years.
It said in a statement that “our hearts are with his family and friends.”
The crash happened atop the AXA Equitable building, at 51st Street and 7th Avenue, near Times Square, shortly after 2 p.m. local time. The FDNY tackled flames on the roof after the crash, but the fire is now believed to be under control.
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN that the helicopter made an emergency “forced landing” on the building.
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“If you’re a New Yorker, you have a level of PTSD, right, from 9/11. And I remember that morning all too well,” Cuomo said. “So as soon as you hear an aircraft hit a building, I think my mind goes where every New Yorker’s mind goes.”
An employee at a bank on the building’s seventh floor, Kendall Sawyer, told the Associated Press she felt a shake that was “jarring enough to notice” but that workers weren’t sure what it was.
She said that’s when an announcement came that the situation was being looked into.
A few minutes later, employees were told to evacuate – without an explanation, Sawyer said.
“It was a little bit crazy, a little bit scary,” she said.
It’s unclear what caused the emergency landing, but there was heavy rainfall in the city at the time of the crash.
However, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said there is no indication the incident was terrorism-related.
“There is no indication at this time that this was an act of terror and there is no ongoing threat to New York City based on all the information we have right now,” de Blasio said. “I’ve checked in with the fire department, police department and buildings department, there is no danger of any kind to New Yorkers at this point.”
According to de Blasio, there were no other injuries reported as a result of the crash.
“There were no other injuries that we know of at this time to anyone in the building or on the ground,” he said. “And I want to say thank God for that. This could have been a much worse incident, and thank God no other people were injured in this absolutely shocking, stunning incident.”
In a tweet shortly after the crash, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the crash and commended emergency services for their response.
At a press conference Monday evening, Trump said he had spoken with Cuomo regarding the incident, calling it a “very sad event.”
According to Trump, a report will be prepared detailing what happened and what caused the deadly crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the National Transportation Safety Board would oversee an investigation.
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The crash comes less than a month after another helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, next to New York City.
Officials say the helicopter had taken off from Manhattan on May 15, and crashed into the river shortly after.
The helicopter’s pilot and a dockworker suffered minor injuries as a result of the incident.
— With files from the Associated Press
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