Danbury native was pilot and sole survivor of East River helicopter crash

Richard Vance, 33, the pilot of the helicopter that crashed in the East River in NYC on Sunday night, March 11, was a native of Danbury, according to his Linkedin profile. He was the sole survivor of the tragic accident.

The New York Post reports that the helicopter that Vance was operating is owned by a New Jersey-based company, Liberty Helicopters and took off from the HHI Heliport in Kearny, NJ. Vance is an experienced pilot and flight instructor. 

In a YouTube video, you can hear Vance saying, "Mayday, mayday, mayday...engine failure".

New York Fire Department Tweets @FDNY during last night's tragedy:

The helicopter was upside down and completely submerged. Firefighters and @nypdnews divers removed five people from the helicopter.

The pilot freed himself. 3 people were removed in critical condition and transported to a hospital along with the pilot. 2 were pronounced dead at the scene -#FDNY Commissioner Nigro gives update on helicopter down in East River.

ABC News reports that Vance "freed himself" and was cut out of a harness by personnel on an FDNY boat. According to reports, helicopter passengers were harnassed in the helicopter when it went down.

Image courtesy FDNY Twitter

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Submitted by Southbury, CT

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