The pilot was the only person aboard the chopper when it plunged into the building and burst into flames, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference. It was obviously a very hard hit," de Blasio said, adding nothing indicated "an act of terrorism." The crash, which sent people streaming out of the building within seconds, reminded him of Sept. 11, Estevez said. KEY MYSTERYA key mystery in the crash is why the Agusta A109E was flying at all in a rainstorm in tightly controlled airspace above midtown Manhattan. Manhattan has only three approved heliports after they were banned in New York City in 1977 after a rotor blade snapped on a helicopter on top of the former Pan Am building, killing five people.

Source: bd News24 June 10, 2019 23:48 UTC