New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that there is “no indication” that terrorism was involved in the helicopter crash at a building in downtown Manhattan on June 10.
“There is no indication that that is the case,” he told reporters, asked about any possible link to terrorism.
“The only indication was a helicopter had to do an emergency or a hard landing, or crashed onto the rooftop of a building, causing a fire, but there’s no indication of anything more than that.”
Cuomo, 61, the governor since 2011, added: “If you’re a New Yorker, you have a level of PTSD from 9/11 and I remember that morning all too well. So as soon as you hear an aircraft hit a building, I think my mind goes to where every New Yorker’s mind goes.”
JUST IN: NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Midtown helicopter crash: “The only indication was a helicopter had to do an emergency or a hard landing, or crashed onto the rooftop of a building…There’s no indication of anything more than that.” https://t.co/pCTDfQU5Ch pic.twitter.com/8JkcDMr8vK
— Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) June 10, 2019
Video footage and pictures from the city showed people evacuating nearby buildings after the chopper crashed into the roof at 787 7th Avenue, known as the AXA Equitable Center.
The building is situated between 51st and 52nd Streets.
The New York Police Department said in a preliminary update: “There was a helicopter hard landing on the roof of 787 7th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Fire has been extinguished. Please continue to avoid the area.”
787 7th ave, #midtown NYC. We’re 1 block south. 20 mins ago there was a loud sound like a too-low #helicopter & I looked up and saw sheet of flame on roof and then smoke. News reports saying helicopter/small plane crash onto roof which would be consistent with what I heard/saw. pic.twitter.com/swY3ksLskH
— Lance Koonce (@LHKoonce) June 10, 2019
I work in this building. Can confirm floor shook and I got out. https://t.co/ST67rMHwFz
— Andy Frankenberger (@AMFrankenberger) June 10, 2019
BREAKING: Fire Department says pilot killed in helicopter crash at Manhattan skyscraper.
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 10, 2019
Pilot Dies
The Fire Department of New York said in an update that one fatality was reported.
According to the Associated Press, that fatality was the person piloting the craft.
Officials indicated that there was no one else on board.
The department said a 2-alarm fire started due to the crash but police said that fire was extinguished and Cuomo said it was under control.
The crash shook the building but no injuries have been confirmed inside the building, he said.
“People in the building itself, nobody has been hurt,” he said.
“There may have been casualties involved in people in the helicopter,” says @NYGovCuomo, but “people in the building itself, nobody has been hurt.” https://t.co/koKWDnOfy8 pic.twitter.com/54Wzkmd1jt
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 10, 2019
The Federal Aviation Authority told CBS that it was gathering information about “an accident involving a helicopter that crashed into a building in Midtown Manhattan.”
It would post a statement as soon as it has confirmed details, the authority added.
A man who said he worked on the 38th floor told the broadcaster that “the building shook.”
“It sounded like a small engine plane at first then I just felt the building shake,” he said.