Air traffic controllers would have had to approve the New York City helicopter flight in Manhattan's tightly-controlled airspace, said Mayor Bill DeBlasio.

One New York City helicopter incident killed five when a blade broke off a chopper on a helipad atop what was then called the Pan Am building.

A helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York City on Wednesday shortly after taking off from Manhattan, causing minor injuries to the pilot and a dockworker, police and fire officials said.