New York city's Ester River (File photo)

All five passengers have been killed in a helicopter crashing into New York City's East River, according to The Associated Press on Monday .

A spokesman for the New York City Police Department confirmed the deaths.

Police say a sixth person, the pilot, freed himself and was rescued by a passing tugboat on Sunday night.

The helicopter was being chartered for a photo shoot when it went down near Gracie Mansion, the mayoral residence.

Police and fire department divers pulled the five passengers from the helicopter.

Video posted on Twitter shows a red helicopter land hard in the water and then flip on its side as its rotors beat the water.