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.
