A sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday, killing all six people on board, the latest in a string of incidents in recent months that has rattled confidence in US aviation safety.
“At this time, all six victims have been removed from the water. And sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said at a press conference.
The passengers, including three children, were from Spain, city officials said. Siemens AG senior executive Agustin Escobar was among those killed along with his wife, three children and the pilot. Escobar, 49, was responsible for rail infrastructure for the manufacturer’s mobility division.
One eyewitness told the Associated Press that he saw the helicopter falling apart in midair, while another said the aircraft was spinning uncontrollably as it fell.
The helicopter’s flight path, which originated at a heliport near Wall Street, shows prior to crashing the group flew south to the Statue of Liberty and then north to the George Washington Bridge before turning around.
“We’re devastated,” said Michael Roth, chief executive officer of New York Helicopter, which operated the flight. “We’re tragically sorry for what happened, and we’re working with the investigators.”
President Donald Trump on Truth Social that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was working to learn more, adding that “announcements as to exactly what took place, and how, will be made shortly.”
The Federal Aviation Administration said it couldn’t confirm the number of people on board, but said it will investigate what happened to the Bell 206 helicopter alongside the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB it was sending a team to investigate.
Earlier Thursday, a passenger jet carrying at least six members of Congress was by another commercial plane on the ground at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, DC. The incidents are shaking confidence in the safety of the US aviation system following a deadly midair collision between a US military helicopter and regional passenger jet near Reagan airport in January.
There have been several helicopter crashes around New York City. A helicopter slammed into the East River during a sightseeing in 2018, killing five people and raising awareness of a safety issue with seat restraints.
“It’s obviously a tragic situation,” said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who added that the cause is currently unknown. “But it will lead to a bigger conversation around are we doing all that’s necessary from a safety standpoint considering how densely populated this area is.”
Escobar, a Spanish native, worked for Siemens for more than two decades, with stints in Berlin, Madrid, Colombia, and New York City according to his LinkedIn profile. He was chief executive officer of Siemens Spain for almost two years before taking on a new role as CEO of the rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility in October.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar and his family lost their lives,” a spokesperson for Siemens Mobility said. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to all their loved ones.”
Top Photo: Debris floats in the water at the scene where the helicopter crashed in the Hudson River in Jersey City, New Jersey, on April 10.
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