A heartbreaking helicopter accident in New York City has claimed six lives, including a family of five from Spain and their pilot, after the aircraft plunged into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon.
The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, had just taken off from the Wall Street Heliport when it crashed around 3:17 p.m. near Lower Manhattan.
Authorities reported that the helicopter made it as far as the George Washington Bridge before suddenly veering south and crashing into the river close to River Drive in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Among the deceased were Agustin Escobar, an executive with the European tech firm Siemens; his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal; and their three children, ages 4, 5, and 11. The family, visiting from Barcelona, was on vacation in the United States. The pilot, a 36-year-old whose name has not yet been released, also died in the crash.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his sympathies during a press conference, stating, “Our hearts go out to the family and all those on board.”
Video footage of the crash showed the helicopter falling upside down into the river, appearing to lack essential components such as a tail rotor and one of its main rotor blades. It remains unclear whether these parts broke off during the flight or before takeoff.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop commended first responders and the medical team at Jersey City Medical Center for their efforts, noting that they “did everything they could.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken over the investigation to determine what led to the tragic crash.