New York: A tragic helicopter crash in New York’s Hudson River has claimed the lives of six people, including three children, officials confirmed. The victims were identified as Agustin Escobar, President & CEO of Siemens Spain, his wife, their 3 children, and the Pilot.
The aircraft, operated by New York Helicopters, departed from the Downtown Skyport in Manhattan at 2:59 pm local time and crashed minutes later, around 3:17 pm, near the George Washington Bridge while flying along the New Jersey shoreline.
Video footage showed the helicopter flipping upside down before hitting the water. Emergency services responded swiftly, deploying rescue boats and swimmers, but despite their efforts, four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, with two others declared dead at a nearby hospital.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the helicopter crash involving the Bell 206, a two-bladed helicopter commonly used for tours and media.
Drone pilots: The FAA is temporarily prohibiting operations around the site of today's helicopter crash in the Hudson River unless operators have specific authorization. For details see: https://t.co/easVe13SWP pic.twitter.com/dtzhtWzm4x
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) April 10, 2025
New York City Mayor Eric Adams extended condolences to the helicopter crash victims’ families, while Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that their identities would be withheld until relatives were informed.
President Trump called the incident “terrible” in a Truth Social post, offering prayers for the victims’ loved ones.
Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter Charter Inc., expressed heartbreak and said that, “I’m a father, a grandfather, and my wife hasn’t stopped crying since this afternoon.”
Eyewitnesses described hearing sounds like thunder and seeing debris fall, while others rushed toward the waterfront. The crash occurred near Manhattan’s west side, close to New York University’s main campus.
This tragedy echoes past incidents, including a 2018 tourist helicopter crash in the East River and a 2009 mid-air collision over the Hudson that killed nine people.
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