Illustration only Six people, including Agustin Escobar, CEO of a Siemens subsidiary, and his family, tragically lost their live...
Six people, including Agustin Escobar, CEO of a Siemens subsidiary, and his family, tragically lost their lives when their sightseeing helicopter plunged into the Hudson River in New York on Thursday.
The victims, which also included three children, were aboard a Bell 206 helicopter that crashed after losing control during its flight from the downtown Skyport.
The crash, which occurred around 3 p.m., led to the immediate recovery of the bodies by police and fire department divers. Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were rushed to local hospitals but later succumbed to their injuries.
Siemens confirmed the tragic loss of Agustin Escobar, with the company expressing its condolences for the passing of their colleague and his family. Media outlets reported that Escobar’s wife, Merce Camprubi, was also among the victims.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also involved in examining the cause of the crash. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter’s rotor blade shatter mid-air before the aircraft spiraled out of control and crashed into the water.
The crash site was near Hoboken pier, and emergency teams worked swiftly to recover the victims from the river, which has a depth of up to 200 feet. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that New York Helicopter operated the aircraft, but the company has yet to comment on the incident.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams called the crash “heartbreaking,” while Brooklyn Borough President Mark Levine urged tighter restrictions on helicopter traffic in the city. The Hudson River, which has been the site of previous dramatic air and water rescues, including the “Miracle on the Hudson” in 2009, remains a busy shipping channel and an area of concern for safety advocates.
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