A sightseeing helicopter carrying a family of Spanish tourists plunged into the Hudson River on Thursday after disintegrating mid-air, killing all six on board including the pilot, in what investigators suspect was a catastrophic mechanical failure.
The victims included Siemens executive Agustín Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubí Montal, and their three children, according to a source familiar with the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity, reports AFP.
The crash marks the latest in a series of fatal aviation incidents across the United States.
The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, had taken off from a downtown Manhattan heliport at approximately 3pm. Less than 18 minutes later, the flight ended in tragedy as the aircraft spiralled out of control and slammed upside-down into the river near Jersey City, New Jersey.
Graphic footage showed parts of the helicopter — including the tail and propeller — separating in mid-air. “The propeller was still spinning without the helicopter,” recalled eyewitness Bruce Wall. Another witness likened the sound to “several gunshots in a row”.
Restaurant hostess Lesly Camacho, watching from Hoboken, said she saw “a bunch of smoke coming out” of the craft as it descended.
Rescue boats arrived within minutes. Divers recovered all six bodies and later used a floating crane to lift the shattered Bell 206 helicopter from the riverbed shortly after 8pm.
New York Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the fatalities and stated the flight path had included a loop past the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration. Aviation attorney Justin Green, a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, said video evidence pointed to a sudden structural failure. “There’s no indication they had any control over the craft. Once lift is lost, it’s like a rock falling from the sky,” he said.
The aircraft’s main rotor blades may have struck the tail boom, severing the fuselage and leading to an uncontrollable free-fall, experts suggest.
The Bell 206 is widely used for commercial sightseeing and news coverage. The same company previously experienced an incident in 2013, when a different helicopter lost power and was forced to make an emergency landing on the Hudson. No injuries were reported then.
Escobar had worked with Siemens for nearly three decades and was global CEO for rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility. His wife had also served in a senior role at Siemens Energy. Escobar’s LinkedIn profile often referenced his commitment to sustainable transport and international travel.
Thursday’s crash is the city’s first helicopter fatality since 2019 and has renewed scrutiny of air safety and the heavy helicopter traffic over Manhattan. Since 1977, at least 38 people have died in helicopter-related incidents in New York City.
Some community groups have long called for restrictions or bans on helicopter tours, citing both the danger and the relentless noise.
