Helicopter Crash in New York’s Hudson River Kills Six, Including Siemens Spain CEO and Family

New York City, April 11 A devastating helicopter crash over the Hudson River has claimed the lives of six people, including three children and Siemens Spain CEO Agustín Escobar. The private tourist helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Tours, plunged into the river shortly after takeoff Thursday afternoon. Officials confirmed all six passengers—five from the same family visiting from Spain and the pilot—were found dead at the scene.

Helicopter Crashes Moments After Takeoff

The Bell 206 helicopter took off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at 3:00 PM, heading north over the Hudson River. According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the aircraft made a sharp turn near the George Washington Bridge and, by 3:15 PM, suddenly lost control, flipped mid-air, and crashed into the river.

Eyewitness Bruce Wall told reporters, “The helicopter broke apart mid-air. I saw the tail section and rotor blades separate while still spinning as they hit the water.”

Emergency response teams reached the scene within minutes, but all six occupants had already succumbed to the impact.

Victims Identified: CEO, Family, and Pilot

According to reports from Reuters and AFP, the deceased include Agustín Escobar, President and CEO of Siemens Spain, his wife, and their three children, who were on a sightseeing tour of New York City. The pilot, whose identity has not been released publicly, was also killed.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams described the incident as “heartbreaking,” adding that recovery teams worked tirelessly to retrieve all bodies from the wreckage. “This is a deeply tragic day for the city,” he said.

National Response and Investigation Underway

Former U.S. President Donald Trump reacted to the incident on his Truth Social platform, calling the crash “horrific.” He wrote, “The video of the crash is terrifying. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.”

Trump also confirmed that U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his investigative team are reviewing the accident and will release a full report in the coming days.

Initial footage circulating on social media showed the aircraft falling rapidly, with debris—reportedly the helicopter’s rotor—also crashing into the river moments later.

As federal aviation authorities begin their investigation, the focus will be on mechanical failure, potential pilot error, and weather conditions during the time of the crash.