A man was crushed to death by a malfunctioning elevator at a Manhattan luxury high-rise rental building Thursday morning, authorities and law enforcement sources said.

The freak incident occurred just before 8:30 a.m. at the 23-story building, called Manhattan Promenade, at 344 Third Ave. near East 26th Street in Kips Bay.

FDNY Deputy Chief Anthony Arpaia told reporters that the victim was exiting the elevator — occupied by seven people — at the lobby level when the car suddenly dropped toward the basement, causing him to become stuck between the elevator car and the shaft wall on the first floor.

One person safely exited the elevator before the victim became trapped, Arpaia said.

The victim “was sort of stuck between the first floor and basement,” Arpaia said, adding that “some people were still left down in the car after it moved down in the basement.”

The victim, identified as Sam Waisbren, 30, was believed to be a resident of the building. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the city medical examiner.

The elevator’s other five passengers were safely rescued and brought out of the car from the basement, authorities said.

“The FDNY had to work really hard to get the car moved,” Arpaia said.

Inspectors with the city Department of Buildings were on site conducting an investigation, according to the agency.

The posh, 183-unit building, built in the late 1990s, has a 24-hour doorman and many apartments are complete with balconies or terraces.

One-bedroom apartments at the building are currently on the market for up to $3,695 a month, according to StreetEasy.

Additional reporting by Larry Celona