A corporate helicopter plunged into the East River just blocks south of the United Nations on Friday, the second helicopter crash in four days in the waters off Manhattan. Rescuers pulled all eight on board out of the choppy water. One of the pilots took salt water into his lungs and was in critical condition, authorities said. The other seven were in good condition and were expected to be released Friday night. Two pilots and six businessmen were aboard the Sikorsky S-76 when it went down seconds after taking off from the 34th Street heliport. The chopper made it barely one block north before it suddenly tumbled tail-first into the water. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. The helicopter sank afterward and was later pulled from the river using a 20-ton crane, according to a report of the Associated Press.
