The previous owner of Newtown’s Madame Fling Flong and Soni’s restaurant has reportedly been killed in a helicopter crash while on holiday in New York.

Sonia Marra Nicholson (pictured) was celebrating her 40th birthday with her partner Helen Tamaki, her mother Harriet Nicholson and her stepfather Paul Nicholson in the helicopter, which crashed into New York City’s East River, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Nicholson was listed is killed at the scene, and two other passengers are reportedly in a serious condition.

NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg says the pilot apparently reported problems in the chopper and said he was turning around.

UPDATE 13 October: New Zealand’s news media is reporting that Nicholson’s Kiwi partner has also died as a result of her injuries. Click here to read Stuff.co.nz’s report.

A news report about the crash is shown below.