Six sightseeing helicopters at the downtown Manhattan heliport a half hour before the chopper that crashed in the Hudson reportedly took off from this East River pier - unusually crowded landing area, with a seventh helicopter hovering above - @NY1 @FAA @NYT @AP

East River chopper pier crowded with seven grounded sightseeing helicopters at about 2:30 PM as another tourist helicopter crashed & sank in Hudson nearby - @NY1 @AP @NYT