Six people, including Agustin Escobar, CEO of a Siemens subsidiary, and his family, were killed when a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York on Thursday.
According to officials, all occupants of the Bell 206 aircraft—Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi, their three children, and the pilot—died in the helicopter crash.
Two of the victims of the helicopter crash were rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to their injuries.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar and his family lost their lives,” Siemens told AFP on Friday.
Siemens Energy also confirmed that one of its colleagues was among the dead, alongside Escobar and the pilot, though it did not specifically confirm Camprubi’s identity.
New York Mayor Eric Adams called it a “heartbreaking and tragic crash,” noting that all six bodies had been recovered. The helicopter’s landing skids were seen partially submerged, as multiple emergency boats clustered around the crash site near the Hoboken pier.
US and New Jersey police, fire department vessels, and divers responded promptly to the scene. NBC News reported weather conditions at the time were poor, with gusty winds and thick cloud cover grounding even their own news helicopter.
An eyewitness, fashion designer Belle Angel, told AFP: “It appeared as if the helicopter’s rotor blade shattered in the sky. And after it shattered, then we saw the helicopter just spiral… And then it just crashed into the water just like that.”
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the aircraft model and said in a statement, “The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.”
President Donald Trump also reacted, writing on Truth Social, “The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims.”
The Hudson River, known for its heavy marine traffic and as the site of the famous 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” jet landing, is up to 200 feet deep in places and has water temperatures around 46°F (8°C) this time of year.
Mayor Adams disclosed that the helicopter took off from the downtown Skyport at approximately 3 p.m., carrying a Spanish tourist family. It initially flew south, then up the Manhattan shoreline to the George Washington Bridge before reversing course and crashing near the downtown Manhattan heliport.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch added: “NYPD divers pulled four people from the crash site, and FDNY Divers recovered an additional two. Immediate lifesaving measures were undertaken on the vessels at the scene, as well as the adjoining pier. Four victims were pronounced dead on scene, and two more were removed to local area hospitals, where, sadly, both succumbed to their injuries.”
The aircraft was operated by New York Helicopter, which lists the Bell 206 among its fleet but has not commented on the crash.
Brooklyn Borough President Mark Levine noted that approximately 30 helicopter crashes have occurred in New York since 1980 and called for stricter regulation of helicopter operations in the city.
