A tour helicopter and a small plane have collided and crashed into the Hudson River in New York.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said five Italian tourists and a pilot were on board the helicopter.
Mr Bloomberg confirmed that there were three people on the plane.
Two bodies have been recovered and the rescue operation has now turned into a recovery mission.
The weather around the time of the accident at noon (5pm Irish time) was reported to be clear and mild.
The helicopter was operated by Liberty Tours.
Police have found one piece of wreckage in murky waters and the search for bodies and debris will continue for a few days.
An eyewitness told a local TV station that he saw a wing come off the plane around the time of the collision.
The helicopter immediately 'fell like a stone' into the river, the witness said. Others reported hearing a loud boom.
In January, a US Airways jet with more than 150 people on board crashed into the Hudson River off Manhattan after apparently hitting a flock of geese. All aboard survived.
