Helicopter Crashes in East River; One Dead

Sightseeing tour ends in tragedy for family

(NEWSER) - Last month’s New York City helicopter crash has claimed a third victim. Harriet Nicholson, 60, died yesterday from "respiratory complications of near-drowning"—meaning a lack of oxygen to her brain—the AP reports. The English tourist was to take a sightseeing tour with her husband, daughter, and daughter’s partner when the pilot lost control and crashed into the East River shortly after takeoff on Oct. 4. Nicholson’s 40-year-old daughter was found dead after the accident, and her partner died a week later. The pilot and Nicholson’s husband survived. More»

Olympian Torres rode copter over Hudson 2 days before crash

(NEWSER) - Crews searching the Hudson River for the victims of Sunday's collision between a sightseeing helicopter and a small plane located an eighth body yesterday in the submerged plane but were unable to recover it, 1010 WINS radio reports. Rough water and silt impeded the efforts of divers, who suspended work late Monday and planned to resume searching for the ninth and last body Tuesday. More»

(NEWSER) - All nine people are presumed dead after a small plane and a helicopter collided over the Hudson River today, the Daily News reports. Five sightseers from Italy and a pilot were aboard the chopper, and three were on the single-engine plane, including a child. Two bodies have been recovered so far, says Mayor Bloomberg. "This is not going to have a happy ending." More»

Artists builds four temporary sites along the East River

(NEWSER) - New Yorkers can feast their eyes on an unusual site over the next four months—waterfalls. Four manmade falls, each about 100 feet high, came to life yesterday at different sites along the East River, the Daily News reports. City officials hope the structures—the work of artist Olafur Eliasson—will bring in loads of tourists before they come down in October. More»

Senate report finds 1,800 cases, blames crappy supply chain

(NEWSER) - The US military's planes and helicopters are full of counterfeit electronic parts, most of which originated in China, according to a new Senate report. The year-long Armed Services Committee probe identified 1,800 cases of fake parts being found in aircraft, particularly in Navy helicopters, cargo planes, and Poseidon jets. More than 70% of the fake parts hail from China, with the UK and Canada being the next-biggest culprits, the BBC reports. More»