A picturesque helicopter tour designed to highlight the skyline of New York City ended in tragedy when the aircraft crashed into the Hudson River, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board. Among the victims was a Spanish family of five—Agustin Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11—along with their pilot, a 36-year-old man whose identity has not yet been disclosed.
The family, hailing from Barcelona, had taken a joyful photograph just moments prior to their departure, standing on the helipad with smiles and souvenir bags. They boarded the helicopter for what was intended to be a routine sightseeing excursion on Thursday, April 10. Unfortunately, the flight ended in tragedy just 15 minutes later.
The crash occurred at 3:17 p.m. after the Bell 206 helicopter took off from the Wall Street Heliport. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft flew north toward the George Washington Bridge before executing a sudden, steep turn to the south. Shortly thereafter, it spiraled out of control and plunged into the river near Hoboken, New Jersey.
Video footage circulated online captured the helicopter descending in a rapid, tilted spin, with parts of the aircraft seemingly breaking off mid-flight, leading many to suspect a mechanical failure may have contributed to the incident. The wreckage struck the water just off the Manhattan shoreline, visible to horrified onlookers who quickly called for assistance.
Witnesses described the impact as both shocking and surreal. Dani Horbiak, who witnessed the crash from her apartment, reported hearing what resembled gunshots in the sky, followed by falling debris and the helicopter’s final descent. Others recounted a loud sonic boom and observed the rotor disintegrating as the aircraft fell.
Emergency responders, including the NYPD and FDNY, swiftly arrived at the scene. Rescue teams retrieved the submerged helicopter from the river, but all six occupants had already perished. Medical examiners were later seen removing the victims’ bodies from the site.The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed the occurrence and stated that the National Transportation Safety Board will take charge of the investigation. Authorities are currently assessing whether the crash was caused by mechanical failure, pilot error, or other contributing factors.
Michael Roth, the CEO of New York Helicopter Tour & Charter, examined the crash footage and observed that the rotor blades seemed to be absent prior to the impact, which he described as an extremely rare and catastrophic failure in his three decades of experience in aviation.
The helicopter involved in the incident was operated by New York Helicopter, a company known for its strong safety record and highly skilled pilots. The Bell 206L IV LongRanger model utilized for the flight is widely recognized for its reliability, accommodating seven passengers and offering an approximate flight duration of three hours.
Focus has now turned to the legacy of Agustin Escobar, one of the victims. Escobar served as the Global CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, headquartered in Berlin. His passing is being mourned across the international transportation and engineering sectors. He held leadership positions throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Americas, and was renowned for his contributions to sustainable transportation and the digital transformation of rail systems.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Escobar possessed advanced degrees in industrial engineering and business from Spanish institutions and had previously resided and worked in New York, which held significant personal meaning for him.
As the investigation progresses, this tragedy has profoundly impacted not only New York but also the global community, which grieves the loss of a family whose vacation ended in an unimaginable manner.
