Six people were killed after a helicopter carrying tourists for a sightseeing tour crashed into the Hudson River in New York. As per authorities, the family of five were tourists from Spain, including Siemens CEO Agustin Escobar, his wife, three children, and the helicopter pilot.
Mourning the death of the six people, NYC Mayor Eric Adam told reporters, "At this time, all six victims have been removed from the water. And sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased. Our hearts go out to the families."
US President Donald Trump also reacted to the crash and said, “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.”
As per witnesses on the scene, the helicopter reportedly "split in half" and "fell apart" as it spiraled down into the water. Speaking to AP, witness Bruce Wall said he saw the helicopter “falling apart” in midair, with the tail and main rotor coming off.
While officials are yet to disclose the identities of the deceased, a report by New York Post claims that Agustín Escobar, the president and CEO of Siemens in Spain, his wife and their three children were onboard the helicopter at the time of the crash.
A report by Associated Press also stated that the victims included Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, a global manager at an energy technology company, and their three children, in addition to the pilot.
As per New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the Bell 206 chopper crashed after reaching the George Washington Bridge, hitting the water upside down and submerging near Lower Manhattan around 3:15 PM. The tour started at 3 PM.
