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All six passengers died after a helicopter crashed in New York on Thursday afternnon, falling into the Hudson River near Jersey City.
Several witnesses have said that a helicopter part appeared to break off midair around 3:15 p.m. and fell into the body of water near Pier 40, with the huge aircraft also quickly falling into the water with a smashing sound. Emergency services from both New Jersey and New York rushed to the scene where the chopper appeared to be flipped over in the water.
The victims have been identified as Agustín Escobar, CEO is tech company Siemens in Spain, his wife and their three children. Devastating final photos of the family shown them posing outside and onboard the aircraft.
They were pulled from the 50-degree water near the New Jersey side of the river, across from Pier 40. Police report that two adults, one pilot, and three children were aboard the aircraft. The family was visiting from Spain.
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, and two others were taken to the hospital, where they “succumbed to their injuries,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. The helicopter lost control shortly after turning at the George Washington Bridge to move along the New Jersey shoreline, the commissioner said.
Eyewitness Venitha, who lives in a building overlooking the river, told Mirror US: “I heard this very loud noise. So for me it felt very wrong because it was so loud. And then I saw something yellow in the water. I saw a lot of ambulances from my window and knew something was very wrong.”
She added: “This is just heartbreaking because you’re just on a vacation or something, this is so unfortunate. I’m just heartbroken.”
Witnesses on social media described a “loud thumping noise” when the helicopter crashed, with what appeared to be a broken propeller. Several sirens could be heard from Lower Manhattan preceding the accident.
The New York Police Department has warned locals to “expect emergency vehicles and traffic delays” in the vicinity of the West Side Highway and Spring Street.
An eyewitness to the crash said he saw one of the helicopter’s blades break off mid-flight. Avi Rakesh recalled seeing the aircraft heading south toward New Jersey when “the chopper blade flew off.” Another witness told WABC “one propeller broke into pieces.”
I don’t know what happened to the tail, but it just dropped straight down,” Rakesh told NBC News. “It came down just feet from the Holland Tunnel — I can’t imagine what could’ve happened if it had hit it.”
“I was walking by and the helicopter went down at a 45-degree angle. Big splash — it was very scary,” witness Eric Campoverde told ABC News, with another adding: “It sounded like a sonic boom.”
It remains unclear what caused the crash. The crash site is on the helicopter flight path between Manhattan and Newark Airport. The airspace is also well used by choppers hired by tourists to fly over New York City’s attractions.
Videos posted on social media showed the Bell 206 mostly submerged, upside-down in the water. Multiple rescue boats were seen circling the aircraft.
The rescue craft were near the end of a long maintenance pier for a ventilation tower serving the Holland Tunnel. Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles were on the streets near the scene with their lights flashing.
Footage of the helicopter that crashed in the Hudson River in Manhattan, New York, flying erratically before crashing. pic.twitter.com/bGA51Y57pg
— Breaking News (@TheNewsTrending) April 10, 2025
At a press conference around 5:40 pm, officials thanked the swift response: “New York City Office of Emergency Management was coordinating efforts on the ground with our public safety agencies. As our state and federal partners, including the FAA, the Port Authority, and the United States Coast Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and our partner agencies in New Jersey,” said the statement.
“When an emergency like this happens and strikes, this team responds with expert speed and professionalism. I want to thank all of our brave first responders for assisting in the rescue efforts and the ongoing investigation into this tragedy,” said an officer at the press conference.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams says, “I always go out to the family…. It’s almost reminiscent of the plane going down here on the Hudson. A river, but thank God we didn’t lose any lives back then. The investigation is ongoing and we have the entire family… lifting them up in prayer.”
“Here’s what we know at this time: at approximately 3:17 this afternoon, we began receiving multiple calls for a helicopter that crashed in the water. These calls generated the response of many agencies as Deputy Mayor Daughtry stated, including, FDNY and NYPD, the Port Authority, and our Jersey partners, the police officers in New Jersey as well, and the Coast Guard…” Adams went on.
“Three adults and three children were on board a Bell 206 helicopter that had left from the downtown skyport just about 3 p.m. The pilot and the family visited from Spain with our preliminary information as of this time.”
“Members of the FDNY and NYPD harbor units arrived at the scene and divers from both agencies entered the water. At this time, all six victims have been removed from the water and sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased. Again, we’re praying for the families and our gratitude, to the rescuers and the courage that was displayed in their dedication,” finished Adams.
Source: The Mirror
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