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A history of aviation accidents in New York City

Published  June 11, 2019 8:37am EDT
News
FOX 5 New York
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A crane lifts a helicopter out of the water after it crashed into the Hudson River, May 15, 2019. Officials said that the pilot was  treated for a non-life-threatening injury. There were no passengers aboard the aircraft. (AP Photo/Joseph Frederick)

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - Monday afternoon’s fatal helicopter crash at 787 7th Avenue in Manhattan isn’t the first aviation accident New York City has had to deal with. 

  • In May 2019, a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near 30th Street and the Lincoln Tunnel. No-one suffered any serious injuries.
  • In March 2018, a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the East River near the Upper East Side, killing five people. 
  • In 2009, nine people were killed when a tour helicopter and a small airplane collided over the Hudson River.
  • In 2006, New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor were killed when the light aircraft they were flying crashed into a building on the Upper East Side.
  • In 2004, a helicopter belonging to WNBC-TV crashed in Flatbush, Brooklyn. No-one was killed.
  • In 1986, traffic reporter Jane Dornacker was killed when the helicopter she was reporting from suffered mechanical failure mid-broadcast and crashed into the Hudson River. 
  • In 1977, a rotor blade broke off of a helicopter on the roof of the former Pan Am (now MetLife) Building, killing five people
  • In 1945, a B-25 Mitchell bomber crashed into the Empire State Building, killing all three members of the flight crew and 11 more people on the ground.