The pilot of a helicopter that crashed in Manhattan on Monday was not licensed to be in the air at the time.
The pilot, identified as Timothy McCormack, died in the crash. While a veteran pilot, he did not have the required certification to fly in poor weather with low visibility, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
McCormack was not “instrument rated,” a necessity to fly in weather that cuts visibility to less than 3 miles. The weather in New York City on Monday was gloomy and rainy. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the crash.
The helicopter crash landed on the roof of a 54-story building in midtown Manhattan. McCormack is the only reported death from the incident. The crash sparked a fire that sent a plume of smoke up from the top of the building.
“This could have been a much worse incident,” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
New York lawmakers have started calling on the FAA to limit helicopter traffic around the city following the crash. Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney told the federal government to ban all “non-essential” helicopter travel and promised to hold the FAA “accountable” for the crash.
