British woman killed in New York helicopter crash
A British woman has been killed after a helicopter carrying four tourists crashed into New York’s East River shortly after take off.
Witnesses watched as the privately owned Bell helicopter suffered mechanical failure and lost control, before hitting the water in midtown Manhattan.
Sonia Marra, a UK ex-pat living in Australia, was trapped in the aircraft under the water and her body was recovered by emergency workers at around 4.40pm local time yesterday. It is believed that she was visiting New York with her family to celebrate her 40th birthday.
Two women passengers, aged 43 and 60, were also seriously injured and are in a critical condition at New York’s Bellevue Hospital. Ms Marra’s 71-year-old father and a 56-year-old man, believed to be the pilot, have both been released from hospital.
The helicopter took off from the east side of Manhattan to begin a private tour, before it crashed into the river at 3.20pm local time yesterday.
The Foreign Office confirmed that three British nationals were involved in the crash and that one of them was killed. Next of kin have been informed.
Mayor Bloomberg said it had been “a terrible accident” involving people who had come “to see the best of our city”.
“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.”
He added that he believed the two Britons who lived in Portugal were a couple.