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Helicopter crashes into East River near midtown Manhattan

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A helicopter crashed into the East River just off midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, plunging several people into the water. Rescue workers using boats, ladders and ropes quickly arrived at the helipad next to the crash site and began pulling people from the river.

Initial reports from local television stations with news choppers on the scene said that at least five people were on board when the aircraft went down near a helipad at 34th street.

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It was not immediately clear whether the aircraft was one of the helicopters that carry thousands of tourists over the city each day. The local ABC news affiliate, WABC, said the aircraft disappeared into the water minutes after crashing. Live TV also showed people in the chilly, murky East River water, some of them rescuers and some of them apparently passengers being rescued.

The Associated Press quoted the New York City Police Department spokesman, Paul Browne, as saying the chopper was a Bell 206 aircraft. The AP said four people, including the pilot, had been rescued but a search was underway for at least one more person who was on board.

Two years ago, nine people were killed when a helicopter carrying tourists collided with a small plane over the Hudson River, on the other side of Manhattan. That incident, as reported here, revived concerns about the potential dangers of the many low-flying aircraft in the heavily congested area. In 2006, Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor were killed when their small plane crashed into a building as they navigated the East River.

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