A manager from Siemens who had come to New York City from Spain died unfortunately along with his family on Thursday afternoon when the tour helicopter they were in crashed into the Hudson River.
The victims included Tech executive Agustin Escobar, along with his spouse Mercè Camprubí Montal who works as a global manager at an energy tech firm, their three kids, plus the pilot, were all aboard. Authorities stated that four individuals passed away at the location, whereas the remaining two succumbed later in a nearby hospital.
The kids were aged 4, 8, and 10 years old.
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Around 3:15 p.m., the helicopter, A Bell 206 LongRanger plummeted into the river that separates New York City from New Jersey. The helicopter departed from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, according to FlightRadar24 .
Speaking to CBS New York, Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter, the firm running the charter service, expressed his deep devastation over the accident.
“I don't know anything about how this went down. The only thing I can tell you, we are devastated. My wife hasn't stopped crying since this afternoon. We're a small company. I'm a father and a grandfather, and we're just devastated. We have no clue what happened.”
When asked about the state of the helicopter, Roth stated, "We adhere to every rule and then some."
Clips of the event were shared widely across social networking sites. Several clips depicted rescue vessels encircling the helicopter, which was inverted in the sea. Additional footage captured the helicopter plunging upside down before making contact with the water.
Avi Rakesh, who shared a video of the helicopter on X, mentioned that he saw one of the helicopter's blades detach during the incident.
I have no idea what occurred with the tail, but it simply fell off, he told NBC News . It fell several feet away from the Holland Tunnel, and I can’t even fathom what would have happened if it had struck it.
Another witness, Peter Park of Jersey City , New Jersey, told the New York Times He heard "a loud explosion" around the time of the event and peered out the window to witness the aircraft releasing thick black smoke. Park mentioned that he observed the helicopter’s detached rotors plunging into the river.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but experts believe the weather is unlikely to have contributed to the disaster.
Justin Green, an aviation attorney and ex-Marine Corps helicopter pilot, indicated that footage from the incident pointed towards "a catastrophic mechanical malfunction" which gave the pilot no opportunity for rescue operations.
Green indicated that it is plausible the main rotor of the helicopter collided with the tail boom, resulting in its fragmentation and leading to the cabin plummeting uncontrollably.
“As soon as whatever occurred took place, they were gone,” Green stated. “It doesn’t seem like they had any command over the vehicle. Once the lift was lost, no pilot could have avoided that crash. It’s akin to a stone dropping to the earth. It’s devastating.”
President Donald Trump addressed the incident in a posting on TruthSocial.
“A horrific helicopter crash occurred in the Hudson River. It seems that six individuals—the pilot, two adults, and three children—are no longer among us. The video footage of the incident is truly disturbing. Our thoughts go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy along with his skilled team are handling the situation. Detailed information about precisely what happened and how it transpired will be shared soon!”
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board stated in an announcement that they were heading up the inquiry into the event.
A submerged Bell 206 helicopter was involved in an accident. Hudson River in New York City,” the FAA and NTSB said.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrived at the scene roughly an hour and a half after the incident, calling it an "emotionally wrenching and devastating accident."
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy mentioned that he received an update about the accident. And the New Jersey State Police, along with the Port Authority of New Jersey and New York, were assisting emergency responders in their endeavors.
The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, referred to the accident as an "unspeakable disaster" in his official statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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