A devastating helicopter accident in New York resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including Siemens executive Agustín Escobar, his spouse Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three young children. What was intended to be a delightful sightseeing excursion quickly transformed into a tragic event just minutes after departure.
The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, took off from Lower Manhattan at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Merely fifteen minutes later, the aircraft lost control and descended into the Hudson River near Pier 40, witnessed by shocked onlookers along the Manhattan waterfront.
Witnesses recounted a harrowing scene. Some reported hearing a sound resembling a “sonic boom,” followed by the separation of the tail and rotors in mid-air. The helicopter reportedly nosedived before crashing into the water. Footage shared on social media depicted the aircraft spiraling without its rotors before flipping over upon impact. Sarah Jane Raymond Ryer, a witness to the incident, recalled seeing the propeller spinning independently from the helicopter’s body. “It kept spinning in the air alone. Nothing was attached to it,” she recounted to CBS. The area was engulfed in chaos as emergency responders hurried to the scene.
Divers from the NYPD and FDNY successfully retrieved all six victims. Four were declared dead at the site, while two others were taken to local hospitals, where they subsequently passed away. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed these details, highlighting the rapid yet tragic nature of the recovery operations.
Escobar, who had established a notable career with Siemens Mobility, was highly regarded in his profession. He most recently held the position of CEO of Rail Infrastructure and had previously overseen operations in Spain and Southwest Europe. His wife, also a professional at Siemens, and their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11, had just arrived in New York earlier that day. The family was reportedly celebrating one of their children’s birthdays with the helicopter tour.
Photographs taken prior to takeoff captured the family joyfully posing in front of the helicopter.Michael Roth, the proprietor of New York Helicopter, later disclosed that the pilot communicated with the base just minutes after takeoff, indicating low fuel levels and a desire to return. “He reported that he was landing and required fuel… but 20 minutes later, he had not arrived,” Roth informed The Telegraph. He mentioned that one of his other pilots had spotted the helicopter overturned in the water, confirming the tragic news. “As a father and grandfather, we are utterly heartbroken.”
As the investigation progresses, there is hope that insights will be gained to avert such a devastating incident in the future. Meanwhile, a city—and many around the globe—grieves an unimaginable loss.
Currently, the cause of the crash is still under investigation. Roth acknowledged, “We have no idea what transpired,” but pointed out that video evidence indicated the rotor blades were missing from the aircraft during its descent. President Donald Trump also addressed the tragedy, sharing on Truth Social, “Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River… the footage of the accident is horrific. God bless the families and friends of the victims.” At the time of the crash, the weather featured overcast conditions, visibility of 10 miles, and wind gusts reaching 21 miles per hour, with water temperatures around 50 degrees. Following the incident, the Coast Guard established a safety zone on the river, halting vessel traffic and affecting ferry services.
Local residents recounted the frightening experience. Jenn Lynk described it as sounding like an engine plummeting from the sky. “I looked out my window… some people were running, while others appeared unfazed. But then the sirens began.” Another resident, Ipsitaa Banigrhi, recalled a loud explosion and dark debris flying through the air. “I initially thought it was thunder or dust… then we heard all the emergency vehicles and sirens.”
