Tourist helicopter crash in New York City kills all on board

A sightseeing trip over New York City turned deadly on Thursday afternoon when a chartered helicopter carrying a Spanish family crashed into the Hudson River, killing all six people on board.

The aircraft, a Bell 206 operated by New York Helicopters, went down around 3:17 PM near Hoboken, New Jersey, just minutes after taking off from the Wall Street Heliport. Officials say the chopper had flown north to the George Washington Bridge before abruptly turning south and crashing into the water.

The victims included Agustin Escobar, a senior executive at Siemens, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11. The 36-year-old pilot, whose name has not been released, also died in the crash. The family was visiting from Barcelona, Spain, according to Spanish officials.

“Our hearts go out to the family and those on board,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said during a press conference.

Footage from the scene captured the harrowing moment the helicopter spiraled into the river, appearing to be missing its tail rotor and one of its main blades. Witnesses reported a loud noise, a midair malfunction, and a large splash as the aircraft hit the water upside down.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, this was the helicopter's sixth flight of the day. When rescue teams reached the scene, they found the wreckage submerged and inverted in the chilly, 50-degree water near the New Jersey shoreline.

Emergency crews rushed the victims to Jersey City Medical Center, where staff worked urgently to save them. “They tried as hard as they could,” Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said.

The Jersey City Police Department is leading the investigation, as the crash occurred on their side of the river. Fulop noted that the city has raised alarms in the past about the increasing volume of helicopter traffic over the Hudson and hopes this tragic event will push those concerns to the forefront.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into what caused the crash.