Hudson River Helicopter Crash Kills Spanish Family of Five.
A devastating helicopter crash in New York has claimed the lives of six people, including a family of five from Spain and their pilot. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon when the helicopter plunged into the Hudson River near Manhattan’s west side, a popular and heavily trafficked area.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the fatalities at a press briefing.
"Our hearts go out to the families," Adams said.
Though authorities have not officially released the identities, the victims were widely named as Agustín Escobar and his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal — both Siemens executives — along with their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11. The pilot, whose name has also not been made public, was the sixth person aboard.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that identities would not be released until the families were formally notified.
Photo Of The Helicopter Falling
Shocking Footage and Rapid Response
Disturbing video footage captured the moment the helicopter spun out of control, flipped upside down, and plunged into the river. According to officials, the aircraft had just turned at the George Washington Bridge and was moving along the New Jersey shoreline before it began to lose control.
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The helicopter, a Bell 206 model operated by New York Helicopters, took off from the Downtown Skyport in lower Manhattan at 2:59 p.m. local time. The first emergency calls came in at 3:17 p.m., prompting an immediate response.
“Swimmers were in the water shortly after the call,” said New York Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker.
Emergency crews launched rescue boats and initiated life-saving procedures at the scene. Four victims were pronounced dead at the site of the crash, while two others died shortly after being transported to a nearby hospital.
Photo: BBC News
Tragedy Near a Bustling Hub
The crash occurred in a well-known stretch of the Hudson River, close to New York University’s main campus and near popular neighborhoods filled with shops, restaurants, and tourists.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which confirmed the downed aircraft was a Bell 206 — a two-bladed helicopter commonly used for sightseeing, news reporting, and law enforcement.
President Trump commented on the tragedy in a post on Truth Social:
"God bless the families and friends of the victims."
"The crash was terrible and more details would soon be released into what happened," he added.
Operator Reacts: “I’m Devastated”
Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter Charter Inc, expressed heartbreak over the incident.
"I'm a father, a grandfather, and my wife hasn't stopped crying since this afternoon," he told CNN.
When asked about maintenance procedures, Roth said, "It's my director of maintenance who deals with that."
Photo: Reuters
Witnesses Describe Horror
Several eyewitnesses in nearby Jersey City described the horrifying scene.
"I looked outside my window. I saw a few people running towards the water, and some people were acting pretty normal. So I was like, oh, it might not be anything. Then I started to hear all the sirens come outside," said local resident Jenn Lynk.
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"I saw, like, black particles flying," said Ipsitaa Banigrhi. "Again, I thought maybe it's just like, dust, or birds, and then we heard all the emergency vehicles and sirens go by, and I think that's when it was like, OK, what's happening."
A Troubling Pattern
This isn’t the first time tragedy has struck New York’s skies. In 2018, a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the East River, killing five passengers. In 2009, nine people — including Italian tourists — died when a tour helicopter collided with a private plane over the Hudson.
Conclusion
This heartbreaking loss of a young family and their pilot is yet another reminder of the growing risks tied to aerial tourism in the United States. While authorities work to determine the cause of this crash, it’s impossible to ignore how disturbingly frequent these tragedies have become. A family’s vacation turned fatal in an instant, and the nation mourns with their loved ones. As helicopter tours grow in popularity, so too must the urgency to ensure they are truly safe. Otherwise, these harrowing headlines may continue to repeat with alarming regularity.
