A helicopter ride over New York City ended in tragedy on Thursday afternoon when a tourist chopper carrying six people broke apart mid-air and crashed into the Hudson River, reports the New York Post
The crash killed everyone on board. The victims included tech executive Agustin Escobar, head of Siemens Spain, his wife, and their three children, who had just landed in the city from Barcelona earlier that day. The pilot, whose identity has not yet been released, also died.
Video captured by a bystander and shared with The Post showed the helicopter losing its tail and rotors before slamming into the water, causing a massive splash.
The accident unfolded around 3.15 pm near Pier 40, off West Houston Street and West Street. Witnesses say the helicopter appeared to fall apart in the air before plunging like a stone into the icy river.
Emergency crews pulled the six victims from the river, four of whom were declared dead at the scene. The remaining two died at the hospital. The New York City fire department (FDNY) confirmed the aircraft had split in half before going down.
Officials have launched a full investigation to determine what caused the aircraft to fall apart so suddenly.
'You could see the propeller just snapped right off'
Bystanders described the scene as the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV spiralled out of control.
A bystander, Charles McSorley, was walking towards Hoboken from Jersey City when he heard a loud boom and saw the helicopter disintegrating mid-flight.
“But you could literally see that the propeller just snapped right off. You can see it snap off, and then it just came straight down,” McSorley told the Post. “It sounded like the helicopter was struggling all of a sudden.”
Another witness, Nicholas Bahamonde, was in the middle of a work Zoom call in his Jersey City flat when he saw the tail rotor break off.
“I jumped up and I said, ‘Oh my God, there’s a helicopter going down into the Hudson right now.’ I saw it break apart, spiral and crash land into the water very clearly.”
Tour CEO mourns crash victims, hints at rotor failure or bird strike
Michael Roth, the CEO of New York Helicopter Tours , the company operating the flight, expressed his sorrow, saying he was “devastated” by the crash.
“I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated. I’m absolutely devastated,” he told the Post. “I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years in the helicopter business.”
Roth suggested a possible bird strike or rotor failure could have been the cause of crash but he said that he was not sure. The only thing I could guess – I got no clue – is that it either had a bird strike or the main rotor blades failed. I have no clue. I don’t know.”
'Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River': Trump offers condolences
US President Donald Trump offered condolences in a Truth social post: “Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. 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. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his talented staff are on it.”
The crash killed everyone on board. The victims included tech executive Agustin Escobar, head of Siemens Spain, his wife, and their three children, who had just landed in the city from Barcelona earlier that day. The pilot, whose identity has not yet been released, also died.
Video captured by a bystander and shared with The Post showed the helicopter losing its tail and rotors before slamming into the water, causing a massive splash.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams says a family of Spanish tourists, including three children, died Thursday in a helicopter crash in the Hudson River that killed six people. pic.twitter.com/07y6jRwQqf
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 10, 2025
Horrific: Six people were killed after a helicopter carrying a family of tourists from Spain crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon.
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) April 11, 2025
pic.twitter.com/65oKGqEfY6
The accident unfolded around 3.15 pm near Pier 40, off West Houston Street and West Street. Witnesses say the helicopter appeared to fall apart in the air before plunging like a stone into the icy river.
Emergency crews pulled the six victims from the river, four of whom were declared dead at the scene. The remaining two died at the hospital. The New York City fire department (FDNY) confirmed the aircraft had split in half before going down.
Officials have launched a full investigation to determine what caused the aircraft to fall apart so suddenly.
'You could see the propeller just snapped right off'
Bystanders described the scene as the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV spiralled out of control.
A bystander, Charles McSorley, was walking towards Hoboken from Jersey City when he heard a loud boom and saw the helicopter disintegrating mid-flight.
“But you could literally see that the propeller just snapped right off. You can see it snap off, and then it just came straight down,” McSorley told the Post. “It sounded like the helicopter was struggling all of a sudden.”
Another witness, Nicholas Bahamonde, was in the middle of a work Zoom call in his Jersey City flat when he saw the tail rotor break off.
“I jumped up and I said, ‘Oh my God, there’s a helicopter going down into the Hudson right now.’ I saw it break apart, spiral and crash land into the water very clearly.”
Tour CEO mourns crash victims, hints at rotor failure or bird strike
Michael Roth, the CEO of New York Helicopter Tours , the company operating the flight, expressed his sorrow, saying he was “devastated” by the crash.
“I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated. I’m absolutely devastated,” he told the Post. “I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years in the helicopter business.”
Roth suggested a possible bird strike or rotor failure could have been the cause of crash but he said that he was not sure. The only thing I could guess – I got no clue – is that it either had a bird strike or the main rotor blades failed. I have no clue. I don’t know.”
'Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River': Trump offers condolences
US President Donald Trump offered condolences in a Truth social post: “Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. 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. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his talented staff are on it.”
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