A helicopter crash in the East River in New York City that killed five people has sparked a debate over the regulation and safety guidelines of aerial tours.

The March 11 incident - the deadliest crash involving a “doors off” helicopter tour - raised concerns that safety harnesses should be banned, as the passengers in the crash were unable to escape from the aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday suspended all doors-off flights involving “restraints that cannot be released quickly in an emergency.”

The only survivor of the crash was the pilot.

The fatal crash last Sunday may have been caused by a piece of luggage accidentally hitting the emergency fuel cutoff button, according to the pilot.

Eyewitness video of the incident shows the moment the chopper –operated by Liberty Helicopters – crashes into the iconic river between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

An eyewitness captured a helicopter crash on video that killed five in New York City on March 11.

“A pilot who survived when his helicopter went down in New York City’s East River, killing five passengers, said in an emergency radio transmission that the aircraft’s engine had failed,” The Associated Press reported.