Six people, including the pilot, have been confirmded dead after the horrific scenes saw a tourist helicopter seemingly fall from the sky into the Hudson River in New York City
Six people have tragically died after a tour helicopter plunged into New York City’s Hudson River on Thursday afternoon.
The helicopter took off from the Wall Street Heliport and circled near the State of Liberty before flying up the Hudson River. At around 3:15pm, approximately 16 minutes after it took off, it was seen crashing into the river.
Footage has emerged which shows the helicopter spinning out of control before it plunged into the river in the city. Multiple emergency vehicles were at the scene, and travel delays were also reported in the surrounding area.
Here is everything we know so far:
Who are the victims?
The president of Siemens Spain, Agustín Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal and their three children, aged 4, 5 and 11 were killed in the horrific crash in New York City.
Heart-wrenching images have emerged showing the family smiling on the helipad and seated inside the doomed chopper moments before the disaster.
Escobar took up the role of CEO at Siemens Spain in 2022 after previously leading Siemens Mobility Spain.
He had a lengthy career in Spain, with a focus on energy roles. He also held the post of vice president of the German Chamber of Commerce for Spain.
The pilot of the copter also perished in the crash, but has not yet been formally identified.
Four people died at the scene, while two died later in hospital
What happened to the helicopter?
While an official cause of the crash has yet to be released, many eyewitnesses described what they saw.
Construction worker Eric Campoverde conveyed his shock to the New York Post, recounting: “I was like, ‘oh s***’. I was walking home from work when I saw the helicopter going down at a 45-degree angle.
“Then I heard and saw a big splash. It was going fast. It was maybe on top of the water for three or four seconds before it went under. It was fast.”
In the footage, what appears to be a part of the helicopter could be seen floating at the surface of the river.
Another witness wrote on X: “I just witnessed a helicopter crash in the Hudson River. Made a real loud thumping sound. Looked up and the propellor broke off and it crashed in the river. I couldn’t see it in the water.”
Amy Kiplok, who was walking along the West Side Piers, told local news: “I just heard this boom, boom, boom, boom, boom and then I looked up and it just went into the river. And then I thought, was that really a helicopter? Then I called 911 and said I think a helicopter went into the river.”
Where did the helicopter crash?
The crash site is on the helicopter flight path between Manhattan and Newark Airport, but the airspace is also used by choppers hired by tourists to fly over New York City’s attractions.
Pilot’s warning call
Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter who provided the tour, has disclosed the pilots haunting final call.
“He [the pilot] called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive,” Roth told The Telegraph.
Roth, 71, said that he started to receive multiple phone messages before one of his other pilots flew over the Hudson and “saw the helicopter upside down.”
President Trump’s statement
On Truth Social, Donald Trump wrote about the “horrendous” crash.
He wrote: “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!”
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By staronline@reachplc.com (Alexandra Snow)
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