A journalist and firefighter from Dallas were among the passengers killed Sunday night when a helicopter went down in New York City’s East River. The pilot managed to escape.
The private charter helicopter hired for a photo shoot crashed into the river and flipped upside down in the water just after 7 p.m. ET, killing all five passengers aboard, including video journalist Trevor Cadigan and Dallas Fire-Rescue Officer Brian McDaniel.
Cadigan, a Dallas native and Southern Methodist University graduate, recently moved to New York to start a career with Business Insider, WFAA-TV reports. Cadigan, 26, was a former WFAA intern and son of station production manager Jerry Cadigan. He also wrote for GuideLive for several years.
26-year-old, Trevor Cadigan is the son of WFAA production manager Jerry Cadigan. He graduated from @SMU w/ a journalism degree + attended @BishopLynch. He recently moved to NYC to begin a career w/ @businessinsider https://t.co/XqvOFEBMXN pic.twitter.com/qHdRhVLlU8
— WFAA (@wfaa) March 12, 2018
Business Insider says Cadigan was "smart, talented, and ambitious" and "made a big contribution" during an internship there, which ended a few weeks ago.
Dallas-Fire Rescue confirmed Monday that Officer Brian McDaniel, 26, also died in the crash. He was hired by the department in May 2016 and assigned to Fire Station 36 in West Dallas.
@DallasFireRes_q is with #HeavyHearts today as we mourn the loss of our #Brother #BrianMcDaniel. #RIP.....you were taken far too soon. @CityOfDallas #Sta36 pic.twitter.com/0M1Zb7Z1Ct
— DALLAS FIRE-RESCUE (@DallasFireRes_q) March 12, 2018
McDaniel had been visiting Cadigan in New York this weekend, according to KXAS-TV. They both went to Bishop Lynch High School.
The Bishop Lynch community mourns the tragic loss of Trevor Cadigan '10 and Brian McDaniel '10, and prays for the comfort of their families and friends and all who grieve their loss. https://t.co/KbFv39NdhF
— Bishop Lynch High School (@BishopLynch) March 12, 2018
Carla Vallejos Blanco, a 29-year-old in town from Argentina, and Daniel Thompson, 34, and Tristan Hill, 29, were also among the dead.
Richard Vance, 33, has been identified as the helicopter's pilot. He was rescued by a tugboat.
The cause of the crash Sunday hasn't been determined. The pilot was heard on an emergency radio transmission saying there was an engine failure.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
Helicopter owner Liberty Helicopters is referring all inquiries to investigators.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
