A devastating helicopter crash in New York City has claimed six lives, including a family of five visiting from Spain. The sightseeing aircraft plunged into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon after reportedly breaking apart midair, leaving no survivors. The pilot, also among the deceased, has not yet been named.
Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as the helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, disintegrated while flying over the Manhattan shoreline. Observers reported the aircraft’s tail and propeller detaching before it spiralled uncontrollably toward the water.
“The propeller just exploded and scattered, right,” one witness said. “After that, we saw the plane just spiraling down like, going from left to right, like that, and we were like, ‘Oh my God.’”
According to initial reports, the rotor assembly may have completely separated mid-flight — an unrecoverable failure.
“If that articulating head actually separated from the aircraft, the aircraft was doomed.” – JP Tristani, Aviation Expert
Aviation analyst Kyle Bailey suggested the spinning blades might have struck the tail boom, ensuring the aircraft’s destruction.
“In this particular case though, when you throw a blade, one blade or the entire head, no, you’re just a falling brick. You don’t have a chance in hell.” – JP Tristani
JUST IN: 6 people are confirmed to be deceased in the Hudson River helicopter crash, according to the Associated Press.
The chopper’s propeller was seen detached from the helicopter, spinning into the water.
According to a witness who spoke with NBC, the chopper blade just… pic.twitter.com/EMpWMJC9el
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 10, 2025
Spanish Family Identified Among the Victims
The crash claimed the lives of Agustin Escobar and Mercè Camprubí Montal, a married couple from Spain, along with their three children aged 4, 8, and 10. The 8-year-old’s birthday reportedly coincided with the day of the tragedy, as confirmed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Escobar had spent over 27 years with Siemens, most recently serving as Global CEO for Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility. Camprubí Montal was a global commercialisation and digitalisation manager at Siemens Energy in Barcelona.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar and his family lost their lives. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all their loved ones,” – Siemens statement
Photos shared on the operator’s website captured the family smiling moments before takeoff, highlighting the joyful spirit of what was meant to be a sightseeing adventure in New York.
The pilot’s identity remains undisclosed at this time.
Timeline of the Incident and Operator’s Troubling Past
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that the helicopter, a Bell 206 model, departed from a Lower Manhattan heliport at 2:59 p.m. on Thursday. By 3:08 pm., it had crashed near Pier A Park in Hoboken, across the river in New Jersey.
The investigation so far relies heavily on bystander video and witness testimony. Early indications suggest a catastrophic mechanical failure — possibly involving the rotor assembly.
This isn’t the first incident involving New York Helicopter Charter. In 2015, one of its aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff while hovering just 20 feet above the ground in New Jersey. In another case in 2013, a helicopter lost power mid-tour and was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River.
“It’s devastation, I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated. I’m absolutely devastated. And I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years in the helicopter business.” – Michael Roth, CEO of NY Helicopter Tours
History of Helicopter Accidents Over Manhattan
The skies above Manhattan are constantly abuzz with private, commercial, and tourist flights. The borough has multiple heliports serving a variety of air traffic. However, the airspace has seen several tragic crashes over the years.
In 2009, a plane and a tourist helicopter collided midair over the Hudson River, resulting in nine fatalities. A 2018 charter helicopter crash during an “open door” tour into the East River claimed five lives.
Just this January, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, killing seven, while another fatal collision occurred days later involving an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter over Washington, D.C.
As investigators work to determine the exact cause of Thursday’s tragedy, questions are once again being raised about the safety standards surrounding sightseeing flights in one of the world’s busiest urban skies.
