Tragedy in the Sky: Sightseeing Helicopter Crashes into Hudson River, Killing Family of Five and Pilot
A devastating helicopter crash on Thursday afternoon has left New York City reeling in shock and mourning. The tour helicopter, which took off from the Wall Street Heliport for what was supposed to be a scenic 15-minute journey over Manhattan’s most iconic landmarks, tragically ended in catastrophe when it plunged into the Hudson River near Pier 40 at around 3:15 p.m. on April 10. All six people on board — including a family of five visiting from Spain and their pilot — lost their lives.
Hudson River Helicopter Crash
The victims have been identified as Agustin Escobar, a 41-year-old executive who served as CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three young children aged four, five, and eleven. The family had only just arrived in New York City earlier that same day, having traveled from their home in Barcelona to enjoy a holiday together in the U.S.
Escobar, a respected leader in the transportation and infrastructure industry, previously served as the president of Siemens Spain. The tragic loss of such a prominent figure, along with his young family, has sent shockwaves through both the corporate world and the Spanish expatriate community. DailyMail..
The pilot, whose name has not yet been publicly released, was 36 years old and employed by New York Helicopter, a company known for offering aerial sightseeing tours across the Big Apple. According to company owner Michael Roth, the experienced pilot had radioed back to base shortly after takeoff, reporting that the helicopter was running low on fuel. He indicated that he was returning to the heliport for a precautionary landing.
“He [the pilot] called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive,” Roth told The Telegraph. “But 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive.”
The aircraft was reportedly airborne for approximately 16 minutes before disaster struck. It had followed a standard tour route, circling the Statue of Liberty and heading north along the Hudson River toward the George Washington Bridge when witnesses and video footage indicate that the helicopter began to experience a catastrophic mechanical failure mid-air.
Eyewitnesses described the moment of impact as both horrifying and surreal. One onlooker told ABC News: “It sounded like a sonic boom, so I looked up and saw the helicopter splitting in two. The rotor just flew off into the sky — it was going so fast — and then the rest of the helicopter just dropped straight into the water. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”
Social media footage captured from nearby piers appeared to show the tail and main rotor blades detaching from the body of the aircraft moments before it plummeted into the river. Witnesses also reported debris scattering across the water as the chopper crashed.
Roth, who has operated New York Helicopter for decades, expressed anguish over the incident, saying, “We’re all devastated. Every employee in our company is devastated. My wife has not stopped crying.” He recounted how he received a flurry of calls and texts when news of the crash spread. “One of my pilots flew over the Hudson and saw the helicopter upside down.”
He added, “The death of the child of any human being is a monumental disaster. There are just no words.”
In a press briefing held later that evening, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisc confirmed that the helicopter had “lost control and hit the water,” but further details about what exactly caused the failure remain under investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are both actively looking into the cause of the crash, examining the wreckage, maintenance records, and communications between the pilot and the heliport.
Meanwhile, somber images have surfaced online showing the family happily posing for photos at the heliport before boarding the ill-fated aircraft. In one heartbreaking picture, the family of five can be seen smiling together in front of the helicopter, unaware that these would be their final moments.
The incident has sparked renewed concern about the safety protocols surrounding aerial sightseeing tours in New York City, particularly regarding pre-flight checks and fuel monitoring.
As investigations continue, tributes have been pouring in from around the world. Colleagues and friends of Escobar have described him as a visionary leader, a devoted father, and a kind-hearted individual who deeply loved his family. “He was a true professional and a generous soul. The loss is incalculable,” said a former coworker from Siemens.
The lives lost in this tragic accident have left a profound void — not only for the grieving loved ones of those aboard but for all who watched, helpless, as a routine sightseeing flight turned into an unimaginable nightmare.
May they all rest in peace.
