June 17, 2005

Pilot in danger of salt-water drowning after crash

The second helicopter crash into the East River this week has left the pilot in danger of dying of a salt-water drowning while 10 others, including rescuers, suffered less severe injuries, officials said.

"It broke up, into how many pieces we're not certain," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said during a press conference along the East River. It came down about 500 feet from the 34th Street heliport it just took off from at 4:38 p.m., he said.

The Sikorsky model 76C helicopter was carrying a pilot, a co-pilot and six male employees of MBNA bank back to the company's headquarters in Wilmington, DE, Kelly said.

Bellevue Hospital was treating the eight people on the helicopter along with two police offers and an civilian all injured during the rescue, according to Chief McFarland of the FDNY emergency medical services unit. One of the pilots is in serious condition and in danger of dying of salt-water drowning, which can occur up to 24-hours after exposure, he said.

The helicopter was completely submerged after the crash, unlike the event on Tuesday when a tourist helicopter's flotation devices kept it floating, albeit upside down. Everyone survived that crash, though one woman, a British tourist, remains in a medically induced coma.

In today's crash south of the United Nations, the passengers were plucked from different spots in the river as the strong current pushed them blocks downstream. The pilot and co-pilot were picked up by a boat, three passengers were helped to shore by civilians and three others were pulled out by police officers around 40th Street, Kelly said.

There were a number of rescuers involved, including Miguel Lopez, an employee of Fresh Direct food delivery service. Kelly said he talked to the man only briefly before the good Samaritan left the scene, "He said, 'I've got to go back to work," Kelly told the news conference.

Some rescuers, like Lopez, jumped in the river to help while others threw life jackets from the shore. A boat, "The Half Moon," also assisted police.

Divers are continuing to search for wreckage in the East River as all other shipping and ferry traffic is suspended there this afternoon.

Earlier: Another helicopter crashes into East River
British tourist in serious condition after copter crash
Tourist helicopter crashes in East River near Wall St.

June 17, 2005 06:59 PM in Arrivology, Tours

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