Three British tourists are believed to have been on board a helicopter that crashed into the East River in New York, the city's mayor has said.
There were a total of four adult passengers on the flight, one of whom has died. Two of the injured are now fighting for their lives in hospital.
The accident happened just after 3.20pm local time, shortly after the helicopter had taken off.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it had been "a terrible accident" involving people who had come "to see the best of our city".
He added: "We think, and bear in mind the story changes every minute, but we believe two were Brits who lived in Portugal, two lived in Australia, one probably was Australian and one was English, but that's changed a number of times, and we're still trying to talk to the families.
"All New Yorkers feel for this family, and we wish it had not happened and our prayers are with the deceased.
"And our prayers are also that those three people in the hospital recover from their injuries."
He said the privately-owned Bell Helicopter crashed "just after taking off" from the 34th Street helipad. The pilot is thought to have known the passengers personally, he added.
Three British tourists are believed to have been on board a helicopter that crashed into the East River in New York, the city's mayor has said.
There were a total of four adult passengers on the flight, one of whom has died. Two of the injured are now fighting for their lives in hospital.
The accident happened just after 3.20pm local time, shortly after the helicopter had taken off.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said it had been "a terrible accident" involving people who had come "to see the best of our city".
He added: "We think, and bear in mind the story changes every minute, but we believe two were Brits who lived in Portugal, two lived in Australia, one probably was Australian and one was English, but that's changed a number of times, and we're still trying to talk to the families.
"All New Yorkers feel for this family, and we wish it had not happened and our prayers are with the deceased.
"And our prayers are also that those three people in the hospital recover from their injuries."
He said the privately-owned Bell Helicopter crashed "just after taking off" from the 34th Street helipad. The pilot is thought to have known the passengers personally, he added.