Tourist Helicopter Crashes in Hudson River
A tragic helicopter crash in New York City’s Hudson River killed all six people on board, including a Spanish family of five and the pilot. The accident happened on Thursday afternoon near Jersey City, New Jersey.
The Victims
The victims included Agustin Escobar, a business executive from Barcelona, Spain; his wife Merce Camprubi Montal; and their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11. The pilot, a 36-year-old man, was also killed in the crash.
Authorities said the helicopter was being operated by a company called New York Helicopters. The helicopter, a Bell 206 model, took off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at 2:59 p.m. It flew up to the George Washington Bridge and then turned south, flying along the Jersey City side of the river.
What Happened?
At 3:17 p.m., the helicopter crashed into the Hudson River. According to video footage shared by witnesses, the helicopter appeared to break apart in mid-air before crashing into the water. Officials said it hit the water upside-down and was missing its tail rotor and main rotor blade.
Witnesses described the crash as terrifying. Dani Horbiak, who saw the crash from her apartment, said, “I watched it fall out of the sky! I heard five or six loud noises, like gunshots, and saw pieces falling before it crashed into the river.”
Another witness, Max, said, “It sounded like a sonic boom. I looked up and saw the helicopter splitting in two. The rotor flew off, and it went straight into the water. Nothing came up afterwards.”
Other witnesses also said they heard loud crackling noises before seeing the helicopter break apart and crash.
Rescue Efforts
Divers from the FDNY (New York Fire Department) and NYPD (New York Police Department) were in the water quickly after the crash to begin rescue efforts. Four victims were declared dead at the scene, while two were taken to the hospital but were later pronounced dead.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said doctors and staff at the Jersey City Medical Center did everything they could to save the victims. New York City Mayor Eric Adams also shared his condolences, saying, “Our hearts go out to the family and those on board.”
That evening, a crane was used to lift the wrecked helicopter out of the river and place it on a barge. Mayor Fulop said that the main body of the helicopter has been recovered and taken to a facility run by the Army Corps of Engineers. However, some important parts of the helicopter are still missing. Dive teams from both the NYPD and New Jersey State Police will continue the search on Friday.
Police also found broken metal pieces, a life vest, a helicopter seat, and personal items from the victims on the Jersey City shoreline.
Investigation Underway
The Jersey City Police Department is leading the investigation because the crash happened on their side of the river. Mayor Fulop pointed out that the area is very busy with helicopter tours and hopes this tragic accident sparks a conversation about air traffic and safety.
“Hopefully this brings more attention to it — not just the noise, but the real safety concerns,” he said.
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has temporarily stopped all helicopter activity in the area of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is sending a special team to investigate the crash. They are expected to arrive Thursday night and will try to find out what caused the helicopter’s rotors to break off and why the crash happened.
Spanish Government Helping
The Spanish Consulate in New York is working with U.S. authorities to gather information and confirm the identities of the victims. The Spanish Foreign Ministry’s communications team confirmed that the consulate is involved.
Past Helicopter Crashes in NYC
This is not the first deadly helicopter crash in New York City. Since 1977, at least 32 people have died in helicopter accidents in the city. The most recent case before this one was in 2019, when a helicopter used for business travel crashed into the roof of a skyscraper in Manhattan. The pilot died in that crash.
Now, investigators are working to understand what went wrong in this latest tragedy, hoping to prevent something like this from ever happening again.
