A child was reported missing. A TV news helicopter crew spotted him on the roof playing hooky

NEW YORK — A television news helicopter crew spotted a boy who had been reported missing but was actually skipping school on the roof of his building in New York City, the television station reported.

The 9-year-old boy left his Brooklyn apartment around 7 a.m. Thursday but did not show up for school, CBS News New York reported.

The boy’s parents called police, who released a description of the missing child, including the orange tie he was wearing.

The CBS station sent a helicopter to the scene of the crash and reporter Dan Rice saw the boy on the roof of his family’s building.

“As my pilot Eric Ross and I circled the building, we came across a person sitting on a chair here on the roof. We zoomed in with the camera. It appeared to be the child that matched the description of the missing child,” Rice said.

Station staff called police and the helicopter crew hovered over the station until they arrived.

“He just grabs his computer and his book bag and goes with the police officers,” Rice said. “They looked back at our helicopter, gave us a big thumbs up and took the child back to his parents.”

A neighbor said he had been drinking coffee on the roof and saw the child playing with his iPad, but didn’t think anything more of it.

For most New York City public school students, the first day of school is September 5, but for the Success Academy school chain, school started on August 12. Their uniforms feature orange ties.