US Helicopter pilot dies following New York crash

A HELICOPTER crashed on a New York City building yesterday afternoon (Monday), sparking a fire and killing the pilot.

The crash occurred on a stormy day in Manhattan on top of a 51-storey building.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot, named as Tim McCormack, was the only person aboard twin-engine Agusta A109E helicopter.

The helicopter crashed into the top of a 51-storey building during a storm, the FAA added.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said New Yorkers were likely to be jarred from earlier reports of the crash because of the 2001 World Trade Centre attacks.

“If you’re a New Yorker, you have a level of PTSD, right, from 9/11,” the governor said.

There was no helicopter-landing pad on the roof, according to Mayor Bill de Blaiso.

Officials said that the crash took place 11 minutes after the helicopter took off from Manhattan’s East Side.

New York’s top police officer said part of the investigation will be finding out the aircraft’s reason for flying in such bad weather conditions.