Dramatic cellphone video — which was captured by a woman walking her dog — appears to show the pilot involved in Monday’s deadly helicopter crash in Manhattan flying erratically as he attempts to stop the aircraft from falling out of the sky. The footage was posted on Instagram and Twitter after being shared by local resident Wendy Slater, who goes by @thingswendysees on social media.
“Crazy helicopter on the east river,” she wrote on IG.
Mayor de Blasio confirmed the video’s authenticity during an interview with CNN.
“It did not look like a helicopter that was crashing or losing altitude or anything like that,” he said. “It looked like a series of purposeful moves that were very erratic.”
De Blasio said it was unclear why they pilot — identified as Tim McCormack, 58, of upstate Clinton Corners — would start flying over the city after attempting such a maneuver.
“I’m having trouble following why he would have gone back up over Midtown Manhattan if his destination was well to the south in New Jersey,” the mayor said. “Something doesn’t follow here, but that’s why we’re doing a full investigation.”
McCormack is believed to be the very same pilot who was forced to make an emergency landing at the West 30th Street Heliport back in 2014 — after a bird shattered a window of the chopper he was flying for a tour group.
“We are mourning the loss of Tim McCormack who has flown for us for the past five years,” said American Continental Properties in a statement to ABC News. “Our hearts are with his family and friends.”
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