A helicopter carrying six tourists on a sightseeing trip above Manhattan crashed Tuesday afternoon into the East River just minutes after taking off, authorities said. None of the people aboard appeared seriously injured, officials said.
The rescue happened quickly after the 1:30 p.m. crash near the Wall Street heliport, since police harbor units were already in the area conducting a drill, said a police spokesman, Inspector Michael Coan.
The seven people aboard the helicopter were standing on its pontoons awaiting help when the police boats arrived, Coan said.
Everyone aboard was taken to nearby hospitals as a precaution, he said.
Six of the people were able to walk; one was taken away on a gurney.
A call to the Federal Aviation Administration was not immediately returned.