The crane, made by US manufacturer Kodiak, collapsed on Friday on New York's Upper East Side, smashing into a 23-story apartment building as it fell to the ground, killing two construction workers and seriously injuring another.

It is the second tower crane collapse in New York in as many months. In March seven people died when a crane collapsed in the same area.

The construction of several large buildings in Manhattan has now been halted as officials investigate.

Robert LiMandri, the acting buildings commissioner for New York City, stopped work at four sites where plant from the same company as the collapsed crane was being used.