Siemens Executive, Family, and Pilot Among Victims

A Siemens executive visiting New York City from Spain, along with his family, tragically perished when their sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon. The victims included Agustin Escobar, a tech executive, his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, a global manager at an energy technology company, and their three children, in addition to the pilot.

Authorities confirmed that four individuals on board were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital. The children were aged 4, 8, and 10 years old.

The helicopter, a Bell 206 LongRanger, went down into the river around 3:15 p.m. The aircraft had departed from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport.

Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter, the company operating the charter, expressed his devastation over the crash. He stated that the company adhered to all regulations.

Videos of the incident circulated on social media, showing emergency boats surrounding the upside-down helicopter in the water. Some videos captured the helicopter falling and hitting the water.

Witnesses reported seeing a helicopter blade detach. One witness described the helicopter dropping rapidly. Another witness reported hearing a loud bang and seeing black smoke emanating from the aircraft, along with detached blades falling into the river.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, but experts believe weather conditions were unlikely to have been a factor. An aviation lawyer suggested a "catastrophic mechanical failure" may have occurred, leaving the pilot with no chance to save the helicopter. It was suggested that the main rotors may have struck the tail boom.

President Donald Trump commented on the incident, expressing condolences to the families of the victims. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board announced they were leading the investigation.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams described the crash as "heartbreaking and tragic." New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy stated that state police and the Port Authority of New Jersey and New York were supporting emergency responders. The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, described the crash as an "unimaginable tragedy.