A tragic helicopter crash in New York City’s Hudson River on Thursday claimed the lives of all six people aboard, including a Spanish family of five and the pilot, Mayor Eric Adams confirmed.
Among the victims was Agustin Escobar, a senior executive at German tech giant Siemens. While Siemens has not officially commented, and the U.S. Coast Guard has yet to release the victims’ identities, Escobar’s reported presence on board adds to the tragedy’s scope.
The Bell 206 helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Tours, took off around 3 p.m. ET from a downtown Manhattan helipad. It flew north over the Hudson River before turning south near the George Washington Bridge. Just minutes later, around 3:15 p.m., the aircraft flipped upside down and plunged into the river off the coast of Hoboken, New Jersey.
Video footage captured the horrific moment: a large object dropping into the water, followed by a separate impact—likely a helicopter blade. Rescue boats quickly converged on the crash site, where only part of the landing gear remained visible above the surface.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said emergency responders and divers recovered all six victims. Four were pronounced dead at the scene, and two others died at local hospitals.
Eyewitness Dani Horbiak, a 29-year-old Jersey City resident, saw the crash unfold from her apartment window. “I looked out and saw the helicopter breaking apart mid-air,” she told Reuters. “Multiple pieces hit the water, and I realized later I was hearing the propeller striking something.”
The crash has renewed scrutiny of the crowded airspace over Manhattan, where dozens of operators offer scenic flights for tourists. New York Helicopter Tours—advertising rides starting at $114—has yet to comment on the incident.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the helicopter was flying in a Special Flight Rules Area, meaning it was not under direct air traffic control at the time of the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the accident.
