CHOPPER IN THE HUDSON – 6 DEAD
SNN.BZ NYC
NEW YORK — The head of the Spanish division of global technology company Siemens and his family were identified as five of the victims who were killed on the ill-fated helicopter that plunged into the Hudson River Thursday, according to law enforcement sources.
Agustin Escobar, president and CEO of Siemens in Spain, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal and their three children, aged 4, 5 and 11, were killed when their chopper plunged into the Hudson River.
A sightseeing helicopter carrying a family of five from Spain and a pilot crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon, April 10, 2025, killing all six on board. The crash occurred near Pier 40, between Manhattan and the New Jersey waterfront, at approximately 3:17 p.m. EDT.
The helicopter, a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV operated by New York Helicopters, had departed from the Wall Street Heliport at 2:59 p.m. for a tour of New York City. The flight path took the aircraft near the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge before it turned south. Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise, described by some as a “sonic boom,” moments before the helicopter began to break apart midair. Video footage and eyewitness accounts indicate the main rotor and tail rotor detached from the fuselage, causing the helicopter to spin uncontrollably and plummet upside-down into the frigid, 45-degree waters of the Hudson.
“It was spinning so fast, with smoke coming out,” said Lesly Camacho, a restaurant hostess in Hoboken, New Jersey, who saw the crash from the riverfront. “It hit the water so hard.” Another witness, Bruce Wall, described the helicopter “falling apart,” with the propeller still spinning as it separated from the aircraft.
Emergency responders from the New York Police Department (NYPD), Fire Department (FDNY), Port Authority, and New Jersey agencies rushed to the scene within minutes. NYPD divers recovered four victims from the wreckage, while FDNY divers retrieved two others. Four individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, and two were transported to Jersey City Medical Center, where they later succumbed to their injuries. Despite heroic efforts, including immediate lifesaving measures on rescue vessels and at the pier, none of the passengers or the pilot survived.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences, noting that the victims included two adults and three children from a Spanish family visiting the city, along with the pilot. “Here you have visitors who were here just to see a picturesque and legendary skyline, and unfortunately, we lost five family members and a pilot to this incident,” Adams said during a press briefing. New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the crash a “heartbreaking tragedy,” adding, “Six innocent souls have lost their lives, and we pray for them and their families.”
The Spanish Consulate in New York is working with authorities to confirm the identities of the victims and assist their families. Spain’s Foreign Ministry has also been informed and is monitoring the situation.
Preliminary investigations suggest a catastrophic mechanical failure may have caused the crash. Witnesses and video evidence point to the separation of the rotor blades, a critical component for maintaining lift and control. The helicopter, which was on its sixth flight of the day, was found inverted in the river, partially submerged near the Holland Tunnel ventilation shaft on the New Jersey side. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation, with support from the Jersey City Police Department. The Coast Guard has established a safety zone in the Hudson, halting vessel traffic within a mile of the crash site, impacting local ferry services.
The aircraft, built in 2004, had a valid airworthiness certificate through 2029, according to FAA records. Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopters, said the company leased the helicopter from its Louisiana-based owner but had no immediate information on the cause of the crash.
This tragedy marks the latest in a series of high-profile aviation incidents in the United States, including a 2009 Hudson River collision between a sightseeing helicopter and a private plane that killed nine, and a 2018 East River crash that claimed five lives. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop noted longstanding concerns about air traffic safety over the Hudson, urging greater attention to regulatory oversight.
As the investigation continues, the city mourns the loss of a family who came to experience New York’s iconic sights, only to meet a devastating fate. The cause of the crash remains under scrutiny, with authorities promising a thorough examination to prevent future tragedies.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the family members from Spain who died in the Hudson River helicopter crash on April 10, 2025. The Spanish Consulate in New York is working with officials to confirm identities and assist the families, but no specific names have been made public as they are still notifying relatives.
