Rescue divers watch the helicopter that crashed into the East River with five people aboard after taking off from the 34th street helipad in New York October 4, 2011. A helicopter with tourists aboard crashed into New York City's East River on Tuesday, killing one person and injuring four others, police said. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK - A helicopter with tourists aboard crashed into New York City's East River on Tuesday, killing one person and injuring four others, police said.

The Bell 206 helicopter crashed moments after lifting off from a heliport on 34th Street on the East Side of Manhattan. Rescue workers pulled the pilot and three passengers from the river, while a fourth passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. All four adult passengers were tourists.

At least two of the passengers were seriously injured in the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it would investigate the cause of the crash, which occurred just before 3:30 pm.

The privately owned chopper sank quickly after hitting the river just feet from the helipad. Within minutes, more than a dozen boats along with divers and emergency workers using ladders, flotation devices and buoys descended on the scene in a rescue effort.