Catastrophic Helicopter Crash in Hudson River Claims Six Lives

A tourist helicopter, ferrying a Spanish family, tragically crashed into New York City’s Hudson River, resulting in six fatalities, including three children. The New York Helicopters charter, which carried a pilot, two adults, and three kids, went down near Lower Manhattan on a Thursday afternoon, according to officials at a press briefing.

Among the deceased were Agustin Escobar, an executive with Siemens, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their children—aged 4, 5, and 11—alongside the 36-year-old pilot, law enforcement informed ABC News.

The helicopter crashed at 3:17 p.m. just off the coast of River Drive in Hoboken, New Jersey, shortly after departing from the Wall St. Heliport. It had reached the George Washington Bridge before turning south and tragically crashing, officials explained.

This family, hailing from Barcelona, Spain, was confirmed by two Spanish officials speaking with ABC News on the same day.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and everyone on board,” stated New York City Mayor Eric Adams in the briefing.

Footage from the accident showed the helicopter diving into the river without a tail or main rotor blade, with the aircraft hitting the water upside down. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation into the crash.

After the accident, the injured passengers were rushed to the Jersey City Medical Center, where staff made every effort to save them, noted Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop to ABC News.

President Donald Trump expressed his sorrow via social media, describing the crash as “terrible” and calling the video evidence “horrendous.”

Eyewitness Dani Horbiak recounted to ABC News how she saw “the helicopter plummet from the sky” from her apartment view.

“I heard five or six loud sounds, almost like gunshots, and saw parts breaking off before it plunged into the river,” she recounted.

Additionally, another witness reported to WABC, “One of the propellers shattered.”

The helicopter, identified by the FAA as a Bell 206, was on its sixth sortie of the day. Rescuers found it upside down in the 50-degree waters closer to the New Jersey side of the river, according to emergency personnel.

With the crash occurring on the Jersey City side, their Police Department will spearhead the ongoing investigation, Mayor Fulop stated to WABC.

Mayor Fulop also remarked that the city had previously raised safety concerns about the dense air traffic over the Hudson and hopes this incident will draw more attention to these pressing matters.