A pilot has been killed after a helicopter crashed onto the roof of a building in New York during a “hard landing” in rainy weather.
The city’s fire department confirmed the incident, saying it occurred on 7th Avenue in the Manhattan district.
A fire that broke out on the roof was quickly brought under control, and the building, the AXA Equitable Center, was evacuated.
The helicopter was flying in heavy rain in air space that is supposed to be off-limits.
A flight restriction in effect since President Donald Trump took office bans aircraft from flying below 3,000ft within a one-mile radius of Trump Tower, which is a few blocks from the crash site.
Melvin Douglas, 50, who was selling umbrellas on the street, said he heard a “rumble” when the helicopter crash landed.
“I didn’t see it, but I felt it,” he told Reuters. “Smoke was on top of the building.”
One video posted to social media shows smoke coming from the top a high rise building.
Dozens of emergency vehicles swarmed the area around Seventh Avenue between 51st and 52nd streets, a few blocks north of Times Square.
“Phenomenal job by our GREAT First Responders who are currently on the scene,” U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter after being briefed on the crash. “The Trump Administration stands ready should you need anything at all.”
The AXA Equitable Center is more than 750 feet (229m) tall and was built in 1985. A roof helipad is not listed as one of the building’s amenities on its website.
In addition to BNP Paribas, the building houses offices for a number of other corporate tenants, including law firms Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Sidley Austin and investment manager New Mountain Capital. Le Bernardin, one of New York City’s most celebrated restaurants, is also located in the AXA building.
The skyscraper is managed by the Los Angeles-based CommonWealth Partners. Reached by telephone, LeAnn Holsapple, the office manager for CommonWealth, said the company had “no comment at this time.”
Nearly a month ago, a chopper crashed into the Hudson River in New York City shortly after taking off from Manhattan, injuring two people. A sightseeing helicopter went down in New York City’s East River in March 2018, killing five passengers.