A devastating helicopter accident shook New York City on April 10, when a private sightseeing flight plunged into the Hudson River near Jersey City, resulting in the deaths of all six people onboard.
Authorities confirmed that the victims included Agustín Escobar, head of Siemens Spain, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three young children—ages 4, 5, and 11—who had traveled from Barcelona for a family vacation. The pilot, employed by a local tour company, also died in the crash.
The helicopter, identified as a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV operated by New York Helicopter Tours, had taken off from the Wall Street heliport at 2:59 p.m. Witnesses say the flight was headed north along Manhattan before it lost control and broke apart in mid-air, just 15 minutes into the journey. Bystanders reported seeing the rotor and tail section separate from the aircraft before it plunged into the water near Hoboken’s Pier A Park.
Emergency teams responded quickly, but four people were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two victims were transported to local hospitals, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
President Donald Trump reacted to the tragedy, calling the footage of the crash “horrific” and offering his condolences to the victims’ families. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this painful time,” he said in a brief statement.
Helicopter crashing into Hudson River. You can see the propellers falling. So sad … pic.twitter.com/6C6aWsS4Ay
— dinoshan (@dinoshanr) April 10, 2025
