A family of five visiting New York City from Barcelona tragically lost their lives when their sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday.
Just 18 minutes into their tour, something went wrong. The helicopter lost control and crashed into the water near Pier A Park in Hoboken. A new update revealed that the pilot radioed back to base, saying the helicopter was running low on fuel minutes before the crash.
71-year-old Michael Roth, the owner of New York Helicopter, confirmed the pilot had contacted the base to say the group was heading back to the helipad, but they never made it. The crash occurred near Manhattan’s West Side Highway, and video footage showed the helicopter upside down in the water.
Witnesses described the tail and rotor blades breaking off before the helicopter fell. One person said it sounded like a sonic boom, while another compared the noise to thunder. They recalled seeing “black particles flying” before the crash.
The victims were identified as Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, aged 11, 5, and 4. The family had just arrived in New York to celebrate one of the children’s birthdays when the crash happened.
Escobar worked at Siemens for over 27 years, and his wife was a global manager for the company. Their children were along for what was meant to be a joyful family trip, taking in the views of the Statue of Liberty. Siemens expressed their deep sorrow over the tragic loss, offering condolences to the family’s loved ones.
The helicopter, a Bell 206, was owned by Meridian Helicopters and operated by New York Helicopter. This tragic event adds to a long history of fatal helicopter crashes in New York, with at least 32 deaths reported since 1977.
This heartbreaking incident is a reminder of how quickly things can change, and my thoughts are with the family and everyone who knew them.