The scene after a deadly helicopter crash in the Hudson River on Thursday, April 10. Photo:
Elder Ordonez/INSTARimages
A Spanish family visiting the U.S. was among six victims killed when a small helicopter plummeted from the sky over New York City and into the Hudson River on Thursday, April 10.
The cause of the afternoon crash was not yet clear as authorities continued to work the scene.
Here’s what to know.
Copy The Link To This Blog Post The tourists from Spain who died in the crash have been identified. They are Agustín Escobar, the president of the Spanish branch of the technology company Siemens, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal and their children. The pilot was also killed.
“Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River,” President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social. “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.”
The president added that Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and his staff are “on it” and promised “announcements as to exactly what took place and how” will come soon.
Copy The Link To This Blog Post Based on flight tracking software, officials said the helicopter, which was flying for tour company New York Helicopters, took off at 2:59 p.m. from the downtown Manhattan heliport.
The aircraft flew south before turning to fly north up the Manhattan shoreline, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. At 3:08 p.m., the helicopter reached the George Washington Bridge, then turned and continued south along the New Jersey shoreline.
“Shortly thereafter the aircraft lost control and hit the water just a few feet off the coast of Pier A Park in Hoboken,” Tisch added.
The cause of the crash, which remains unknown, is under investigation.
Copy The Link To This Blog Post During Thursday’s press conference, officials confirmed the helicopter was flying for the tour company New York Helicopters.
Speaking with The New York Post, CEO Michael Roth said he was “absolutely devastated” by the news. “I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated,” he told the outlet.
Although a cause of the crash has yet to be determined, Roth acknowledged that based on video that showed the aircraft falling down “the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter.”
“I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years being in business, in the helicopter business,” he added.
PEOPLE could not immediately reach the company for comment.
Copy The Link To This Blog Post At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that all six victims had been removed from the water — and that “sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased.”
According to police, the victims included a pilot, 2 other adults and 3 children. Adams said that the family who died was visiting from Spain.
Four of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two were taken to the hospital before succumbing to their injuries.
Although they have yet to be identified, NBC New York reported that officials say the family included a business executive and an adult relative.
Copy The Link To This Blog Post According to WABC, officials say there were three adults, including the pilot, and three children on board.
A law enforcement source told PEOPLE that a family of five from Spain was on the helicopter at the time of the crash.
Copy The Link To This Blog Post Social media video shows the chopper spinning end over end as it fell directly into the chilly waters of the Hudson around 3:15 p.m. local time.
The New York City Fire Department told PEOPLE the crash occurred on the New Jersey side of the water, and the Hoboken Fire Department said it took place in Jersey City.
A nearby runner saw the moment of impact, telling WABC that he heard what sounded like a “sonic boom.’
“Literally I just see a helicopter splitting in two with the rotor flying off in the sky,” he said, referring to the blades atop the craft that give it lift.
“It was going so fast,” the witness said. “It just went straight into the water like nothing came up afterwards.”
One witness told the Associated Press that he witnessed the helicopter “falling apart” in the air and saw the tail and propeller come off, while another said the helicopter was “spinning pretty fast” as it fell and hit the water “really hard.”
The videos on social media appeared to confirm these accounts.
Copy The Link To This Blog Post The New York Police Department confirmed the crash on social media just after 3:30 p.m. local time on Thursday.
“Due to a helicopter crash in the Hudson River, in the vicinity of the West Side Highway and Spring Street, expect emergency vehicles and traffic delays in the surrounding areas,” police wrote in a statement.
WABC and WCBS and the AP reported all six people on board had died, citing sources.
When reached by PEOPLE, both the NYPD and the Coast Guard said they could not confirm any details
The Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating alongside the National Transportation Safety Board, said the aircraft, which initially remained submerged in the water, was a Bell 206 helicopter.
Yasin Demirci/Anadolu via Getty
