Helicopter Cr+sh Claims the life of a Siemens Executive, his wife, kids and others in New York

Helicopter Cr+sh Claims the life of a Siemens Executive, his wife, kids and others in New York

A sightseeing trip turned tr+gic on Thursday when a helicopter carrying a Spanish family cr+shed into the Hudson River near Hoboken, New Jersey, k+lling all onboard including the pilot.

Eyewitnesses described the aircraft spiraling before slamming upside down into the river. Debris scattered as onlookers watched helplessly. The victims included Siemens executive Agustín Escobar and his family, visiting from Spain, according to New York Mayor Eric Adams.

At 3:17 p.m., 911 calls reported the crash near Pier A Park. NYPD and FDNY rescued six people from the water. Four were pronounced d+ad at the scene; two children later d+ed in the hospital.

“Our hearts go out to the family,” said Mayor Adams.

The helicopter, a Bell 206L-4 operated by New York Helicopter Charter, took off at 2:59 p.m. from Manhattan. It flew a popular sightseeing route up the Hudson before losing control shortly after turning south near the George Washington Bridge. It flew just 16 minutes before going down.

“It’s an unimaginable tr+gedy,” said Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Company CEO Michael Roth told CNN, “We are devastated… I’m a father and my wife hasn’t stopped crying.” He declined to comment on the helicopter’s maintenance.

The cr+sh is under investigation by the NTSB and FAA. The chopper had a valid airworthiness certificate until 2029 but had been subject to two FAA safety directives regarding rotor components. It was also linked to prior safety incidents.

Weather at the time was cloudy with 10–15 mph winds and clear visibility. Emergency crews responded quickly, but the speed and impact of the cr+sh left no time for survival.