A tourist helicopter crashed into the Hudson River off Lower Manhattan on Thursday afternoon, killing all six people on board, including three children. The deceased reportedly included Agustín Escobar, President and CEO of Siemens in Spain, his wife, and their three children.
The pilot, who was operating the chopper, also perished in the crash.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, addressing the media at the site of the accident, described it as a “heartbreaking and tragic crash.”
“At this time, all six victims have been removed from the water. And sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased,” the Mayor said during a press briefing.
The chopper, a Bell 206 aircraft operated by New York Helicopter Tours, took off around 3pm from a heliport in downtown Manhattan. According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, it flew northwards along the Hudson River before turning south at the George Washington Bridge. It then reportedly crashed minutes later at approximately 3.15pm, flipping over mid-air before plunging into the river near Lower Manhattan.
Eyewitnesses captured dramatic visuals of the incident, with several videos circulating on social media showing the aircraft's tail and propeller separating mid-air.
A witness, Bruce Wall, said, “I saw the helicopter falling apart. The tail and the propeller came off. The propeller was still spinning without the aircraft as it fell.”
Emergency and police boats were seen quickly converging on the crash site. Two of the victims were initially taken to hospital but later succumbed to their injuries.
Reacting to the tragedy, United States President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth: “Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. Looks like six people, the pilot, two adults, and three children, are no longer with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his talented staff are on it. Announcements as to exactly what took place, and how, will be made shortly!”
The Bell 206 helicopter was conducting a routine tourist flight at the time of the incident. The skies above Manhattan are frequently trafficked by both recreational and commercial aircraft, particularly helicopters catering to the city’s bustling tourist industry.
The Hudson River has a history of aviation incidents. In 2009, nine people were killed after a plane collided mid-air with a tourist helicopter. In 2018, another helicopter, offering open-door flights, crashed into the East River, claiming five lives.
The cause of Thursday’s crash remains under investigation. Aviation authorities have begun examining wreckage and flight data as recovery operations continue.
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