A heartbreaking tragedy has shaken New York City after a helicopter crash in the Hudson River claimed the lives of six people, including Agustin Escobar, a prominent Siemens executive, his wife, and their three young children. The family had just arrived in New York from Barcelona, Spain, ready to begin what was meant to be a joyful vacation.
The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Tours LLC, departed from Lower Manhattan at approximately 3 p.m. on Thursday. It was a typical sightseeing flight, the kind that happens dozens of times a day in the city. But just 15 minutes into the journey, the helicopter spiraled out of control and plummeted into the Hudson River, drawing the attention of shocked onlookers along the waterfront.
Witnesses described the horrific moment in chilling detail. According to several people at the scene, the helicopter began to descend nose-first before parts of it visibly broke off mid-air. A woman named Sarah Jane Raymond Ryer told CBS that she saw the propeller detach and continue spinning on its own in the air. “The helicopter was a little bit nose down, and I saw the propeller separating from the helicopter. It kept spinning in the air alone. Nothing was attached to it,” she said. Others noted they heard a loud sound, like a “sonic boom,” right before the crash.
Videos posted on social media revealed the terrifying moment the helicopter spiraled downward, its rotors missing, and then crashed upside down into the river near Pier 40. Emergency services responded immediately. NYPD divers pulled four people from the wreckage, while FDNY divers recovered two more. Life-saving measures were quickly initiated, but four of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The remaining two were taken to local hospitals, where they sadly succumbed to their injuries.
Authorities later identified the victims as Agustin Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their children, ages 4, 5, and 11. The family had only just begun their visit to New York that same morning. Escobar was a high-level executive who had been leading Siemens operations in Spain and Southwest Europe since 2022. His leadership was considered vital to the company’s recent success in the transportation and mobility sectors. In a statement, former Siemens Spain head Miguel Ángel López praised Escobar’s vision and dedication, stating, “In recent years, his work has been key to Siemens’ success in the field of mobility and transport.”
BREAKING: 6 people killed in Hudson River helicopter crash – APpic.twitter.com/G5NbjZVzV0
— BNO News (@BNONews) April 10, 2025
Before the flight, the family was photographed by New York Helicopters. They were seen smiling, embracing each other, and giving thumbs-up gestures. All were wearing hearing protection and holding folded yellow life vests, seemingly excited about the adventure ahead. These images were initially posted on the tour company’s website but have since been removed out of respect for the victims.
Details about the pilot have not yet been disclosed. However, company owner Michael Roth provided some insight into what may have gone wrong. Roth said the pilot had contacted the base shortly after takeoff to report low fuel and was preparing to land for refueling. “He called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive,” Roth told The Telegraph. Roth said he began receiving calls about the crash before one of his other pilots confirmed the horrifying scene—spotting the helicopter upside down in the river.
Roth expressed deep sorrow, saying, “We’re a small company. I’m a father and a grandfather, and we’re just devastated. My wife hasn’t stopped crying since this afternoon. We have no clue what happened.”
The crash quickly drew attention nationwide, including from President Donald Trump, who addressed the tragedy on his Truth Social platform. “Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. Looks like six people, the pilot, two adults, and three children, are no longer with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his talented staff are on it. Announcements as to exactly what took place, and how, will be made shortly,” Trump wrote.
The Coast Guard established a safety zone around the crash site, halting all vessel traffic for a mile in both directions. Ferry services were disrupted as a result. At the time of the incident, weather conditions included overcast skies, approximately 10 miles of visibility, and wind gusts reaching up to 21 miles per hour. The water temperature hovered around 50 degrees—conditions that could complicate rescue efforts and survival for crash victims.
Local residents on both sides of the Hudson witnessed the tragedy unfold. Jenn Lynk of Jersey City said she initially thought an engine had fallen from a nearby structure. “I looked outside my window. I saw a few people running toward the water, and some people were acting pretty normal. So I was like, oh, it might not be anything. Then I started to hear all the sirens come outside,” she said.
Another Jersey City resident, Ipsitaa Banigrhi, described the moment of impact. “I heard, like, such a loud sound. It felt like thunder. And because it was raining today, it was just like, OK, maybe. And then I saw black particles flying. Again, I thought maybe it’s just like dust, or birds, and then we heard all the emergency vehicles and sirens go by, and I think that’s when it was like, OK, what’s happening.”
As investigators begin the process of piecing together what went wrong, the pain felt by the families and those who witnessed the crash is immense. Colleagues and friends of Agustin Escobar remember him as a calm, thoughtful leader devoted to both his work and his family. “No matter how hard things got, he always stayed calm and kept it together,” said Juan Ignacio Diaz, a former coworker. “He had this way of making things feel OK, even when they weren’t. And he never forgot what mattered most — his family.”
This devastating incident is a reminder of how fragile life can be. What began as an exciting family vacation turned into a nightmare in just minutes. As authorities continue to investigate, one can only hope that the lessons learned from this tragedy will prevent future heartbreak. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected. May the victims rest in peace.
