Skip to main content
U.S.

Siemens executive, family identified as victims of Hudson River helicopter crash

Listen
Share

  • A Siemens executive from Spain and his family were on a helicopter that plunged into New York City’s Hudson River on Thursday, killing everyone on board. The 36-year-old pilot has not been identified.
  • The Bell 206 helicopter lost control 15 minutes after taking off from a downtown heliport.
  • The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause of the crash.

Full Story

Six people died when a passenger helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York City on Thursday afternoon, April 10. The crash killed a Siemens executive from Spain, his wife, their children and the pilot.

Media Landscape

See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 24% Center 58% Right 16%
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News

Who was on the helicopter?

Law enforcement sources told ABC News that Agustin Escobar, head of Siemens’ division in Spain and Southwest Europe, died in the crash. The tech executive’s wife and their children, aged 4, 5 and 11 years old, were all identified as victims in the crash. A 36-year-old pilot also died; his identity has not yet been released.

QR code for SAN app download

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

The New York Times reports that Escobar and his family were sightseeing in New York City when the helicopter crashed.

What are the details of the crash?

According to officials, a Bell 206 helicopter with the tour company New York Helicopters took off from the downtown heliport just before 3 p.m. EDT. About 15 minutes later, the helicopter lost control and crashed into the Hudson River near the New Jersey coastline. Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise just before the crash.

Divers with the New York Police Department (NYPD) and Fire Department (FDNY) arrived on the scene within minutes. The Coast Guard and New Jersey authorities also coordinated the recovery efforts.

NYPD divers pulled four bodies from the water, and FDNY found the other two. Officials confirmed they were a family visiting from Spain, and none survived.

“Again, we are praying for the families and our gratitude to the rescuers and their courage that was displayed and their dedication,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at the news conference.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) leading the probe.

Tags: , , ,

[Lauren Keenan]

SIX PEOPLE DIED WHEN THEIR PASSENGER HELICOPTER CRASHED INTO THE HUDSON RIVER IN NEW YORK CITY THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS, A BELL 206 HELICOPTER WITH TOUR COMPANY “NEW YORK HELICOPTERS” TOOK OFF FROM THE DOWNTOWN HELIPORT JUST BEFORE 3PM EASTERN TIME.

ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER, THE HELICOPTER LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE HUDSON RIVER NEAR THE NEW JERSEY COASTLINE.

DIVERS WITH THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT SPRANG INTO ACTION AND WERE ON THE SCENE WITHIN MINUTES.

THE COAST GUARD AND NEW JERSEY AUTHORITIES ALSO COORDINATED WITH THE RESCUE EFFORTS.

ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT LOGS, SIX PEOPLE WERE ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT: A PILOT, TWO ADULTS AND THREE CHILDREN.

NYPD DIVERS PULLED FOUR VICTIMS FROM THE WATER AND FDNY PULLED THE OTHER TWO.

OFFICIALS SAY THE VICTIMS ON BOARD WERE A FAMILY VISITING FROM SPAIN.

UNFORTUNATELY, NO ONE SURVIVED.

“AGAIN, WE ARE PRAYING FOR THE FAMILIES AND OUR GRATITUDE TO THE RESCUERS AND THEIR COURAGE THAT WAS DISPLAYED AND THEIR DEDICATION,” NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS SAID AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE.

OFFICIALS SAY THEY’RE NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO THE RIVER.

THE FAA AND NTSB ARE INVESTIGATING.