Six people killed in helicopter crash in Hudson River in New York

Rescue workers and emergency personnel work at the scene of a helicopter crash on the Hudson River near lower Manhattan - (REUTERS)

A helicopter has crashed into the Hudson River just off Manhattan, killing six people, officials said.

The New York fire department said it received a report of a helicopter in the water at 3.17pm on Thursday, with sources later telling ABC News that a family of Spanish tourists, including three children, had been on the helicopter alongside the pilot.