Helicopter crashes in New York's East River

NEW YORK — A helicopter crashed into the East River off Manhattan on Tuesday, New York police said, with one person still missing.

A police officer at the scene told AFP that three passengers and the pilot had been rescued after the crash into the swirling river. One more person was still unaccounted for.

NY1 television reported that two of those rescued were in critical condition, one in serious condition and another was treated at the scene.

A man who witnessed the crash, Dan Sweeney, told NY1 that the chopper was headed for a nearby heliport when it crashed into the river near 34th Street, just south of the United Nations building.

Weather conditions were clear, with a light wind, at the time of the crash.