A New Zealander was flying the helicopter which collided with a plane over New York's Hudson River.
Nine people are presumed dead following the crash at 4am today (NZ Time).
Liberty Helicopters said the pilot was Jeremy Clark, 33, who had been living in New Jersey, the New York Times reported.
Mr Clark's aunt told One News his parents had gone to Auckland Airport this evening, hoping to travel to New York.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said it had not received a request for help.
It was believed Mr Clark's sightseeing helicopter, carrying five Italian tourists, was hit from behind by a small private plane carrying three people, including a child.
Debris was scattered across the water and thousands of people on the waterfront were forced to scamper for cover.
A helicopter pilot refuelling on the ground at the Liberty Tours heliport saw the plane approaching the helicopter and tried to radio an alert to the pilots, police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. The warning wasn't heard, or didn't happen in time.
"He radioed the accident helicopter and told him, 'One-lima-hotel, you have a fixed wing behind you'," National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman said on Saturday.
"There was no response."
Part of a story from the New Zealand Herald.
Kiwi pilot in New York air collision - National - NZ Herald News