the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New York NY, a devastating helicopter crash in the Hudson River has claimed the lives of six people, including three children and a prominent executive from Spain. The New York Helicopters chartered flight was carrying a visiting family from Barcelona along with the pilot when it tragically went down near Lower Manhattan on Thursday afternoon.
Family Vacation Turns to Heartbreak
The victims have been identified as Agustin Escobar, President and CEO of Siemens Spain, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11. All five family members, along with the 36-year-old pilot, were killed in the crash. The family had just arrived in New York City from Barcelona for what was meant to be a joyful vacation.
“This is a tragedy beyond words,” said Mayor Eric Adams during a press briefing. “Our hearts go out to the loved ones of those lost.”
Details of the Hudson River Helicopter Crash
The Bell 206 helicopter departed from the Wall Street Heliport and crashed just 15 minutes later at approximately 3:17 PM, off the coast of River Drive in Hoboken, New Jersey. Witnesses described the aircraft plunging into the river inverted, missing both its main rotor blade and tail rotor.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the chopper was on its sixth flight of the day and landed upside down in the 50-degree Hudson River. Rescue crews responded quickly, but tragically, all six passengers were pronounced dead.
Eyewitnesses Describe Horror
Numerous eyewitnesses recounted terrifying moments:
“I saw pieces falling off before it hit the water,” said local resident Dani Horbiak, who watched the crash from her apartment window.
“It looked like a propeller broke in mid-air,” said another witness. “It came down at a 45-degree angle and made a huge splash.”
“It sounded like a sonic boom,” another resident told WABC.
National Transportation Safety Board Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading an active investigation into the cause of the crash. However, because the incident occurred closer to Jersey City, the Jersey City Police Department is taking the lead on the local investigation.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop acknowledged that the city has raised previous concerns about dense helicopter air traffic over the Hudson River corridor. He hopes this tragedy will reignite the conversation around air traffic regulations and safety.
Safety and Regulatory Concerns in Focus
This crash adds to growing scrutiny over helicopter tour safety in New York City. With dozens of daily sightseeing flights over the Hudson River, safety advocates have long called for stricter oversight. Officials confirmed that conversations are already underway to reassess policies surrounding low-flying charter helicopters in metropolitan airspace.
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God Bless these beautiful souls.