Six Killed as Tour Helicopter Crashes into Hudson River

A tour helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey, on Thursday afternoon, killing all six people on board. The victims included a pilot, two adults, and three children, Fox News reports.

Authorities have identified five of the victims as a Spanish family: Agustin Escobar, a Siemens executive; his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal; and their three young children, according to The Associated Press. The identity of the pilot has not yet been released.

Agustin Escobar’s LinkedIn profile indicated he was the Global CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, a German global technology company with a headquarters in Spain, and had been with the company for over 27 years.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said authorities received multiple 911 calls reporting the crash around 3:17 p.m. The helicopter was found inverted in the river, with the cabin visible above the water. A multi-agency rescue effort was immediately launched, involving divers from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Port Authority, and various New Jersey agencies.

Despite immediate lifesaving efforts both on the rescue vessels and on an adjoining pier, four individuals were pronounced dead at the scene. The remaining two were transported to local hospitals, where they later succumbed to their injuries.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that the family was visiting from Spain and expressed his condolences, calling it “heartbreaking” that such a tragic incident befell a family on vacation.

According to flight tracking software and a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Bell 206 helicopter, operated by the tour company New York Helicopters, departed from the downtown Manhattan heliport at 2:59 p.m. The aircraft flew south before turning north along the Manhattan shoreline up the Hudson River.

At 3:08 p.m., the helicopter reached the George Washington Bridge and then reversed course to fly south along the New Jersey shoreline. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft reportedly lost control and crashed into the water just a few feet from the shore near Hoboken.

The Army Corps of Engineers successfully salvaged the helicopter just before 10 p.m. Thursday. The crash site is located less than a mile from Manhattan and close to the Holland Tunnel.

The US Coast Guard has established a safety zone extending one mile north and one mile south of the Holland Tunnel across the entire Hudson River, effective as of 10 p.m.

President Donald Trump addressed the tragedy on Truth Social, offering his condolences.

“Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River,” Trump wrote. “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 FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash.