A tragic helicopter crash in New York’s Hudson River on April 8 claimed the lives of six people, including a family of five tourists from Spain and the pilot, leaving behind shocked witnesses and heartbreaking stories. What started as a scenic helicopter tour of New York City’s iconic skyline turned into a devastating disaster within minutes. On April 10, Agustin Escobar, a Siemens executive based in Barcelona, boarded a helicopter with his wife, Mercè Camprubi Montal, and their three children, ages 4, 5, and 11. Operated by New York Helicopters, the aircraft lifted off from a Manhattan heliport, offering passengers a breathtaking aerial view of the city. The family was in New York to celebrate one of the children’s birthdays, according to Spanish media outlet El Diario.
But just 16 minutes after takeoff, at approximately 3:15 p.m., the flight ended in tragedy when the helicopter lost control and plunged into the cold waters of the Hudson River. CNN reported that the crash was sudden and violent. Social media footage showed the helicopter spiraling downward in an alarming descent before crashing into the river with a loud splash. Its rotor blades detached midair and landed separately, leaving onlookers in disbelief. Emergency responders from the FDNY and NYPD rushed to the scene within minutes, diving into the murky river in hopes of rescuing survivors. Unfortunately, the rescue turned into a recovery mission as all six onboard, including the Escobar family and the pilot, were pronounced dead.
Eyewitnesses described the crash as “terrifying” and said it felt like watching a horror movie unfold in real life. Several people walking near Pier 40 recounted seeing the helicopter flipping uncontrollably before smashing into the water upside down. Debris scattered across the surface of the river. Sarah Jane Raymond Ryer, a witness interviewed by WCBS, recalled seeing the helicopter’s nose dip before the propeller separated and continued spinning alone in the air. “It wasn’t attached to anything. It just kept spinning,” she said.
Another witness, Max, shared his chilling account with ABC7. “It sounded like a sonic boom on my right. I looked up and saw the helicopter splitting in two, the rotor flying off, and the whole thing just heading straight into the water. Nothing surfaced. It must have sunk instantly. I stood there in shock, and within five minutes, police and emergency services started arriving.” He added, “It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Max described the sound of the crash further, saying it began with a loud bang, followed by a “whoop whoop” sound, mimicking the noise of a helicopter. “The propeller went up even higher than the helicopter itself. Then it just came down straight into the river.”
Another onlooker named Rajany told reporters she was visibly shaken by what she saw. “It just kind of fell apart midair. It was the most terrifying thing we’ve ever witnessed.” Bruce Wall, also a witness, said he heard strange cracking noises before looking up to see the helicopter disintegrating. “I saw the tail break off, and then the rest of the aircraft tumbled into the river with the propeller still in the air,” he said.
Dani Horbiak, a Jersey City resident who was working from her apartment overlooking the Hudson, recalled that she heard the crash before seeing it. “I watched it fall out of the sky. I heard five or six loud pops that sounded like gunshots. Then I saw pieces breaking off before the whole thing dropped into the river,” she explained. Horbiak recorded the scene as it happened, describing it as the helicopter “falling to pieces” before splashing down near the pier.
She added, “I’m deeply shaken knowing I witnessed this happen to a family. It could’ve been worse if the helicopter had been just a little further off course or if the wind had been stronger. In the face of this tragedy, I’m thankful no one else was injured.”
Another local resident, Jenn Lynk, said she was first alerted by the unusual sounds. “It honestly sounded like an engine failed. I looked out the window and saw people rushing toward the river. Some people weren’t reacting much, so I wasn’t sure what had happened. Then I started hearing sirens, and that’s when it hit me—this was serious.”
While the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, aviation experts are exploring several possible scenarios. Mechanical failure or abrupt weather changes are being considered as potential factors. According to Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopters, the pilot had radioed that he was preparing to land and mentioned he needed fuel. Roth explained, “It should’ve taken him three minutes to land, but after 20 minutes, there was no sign of him.”
He expressed deep sorrow over the incident, telling CBS, “I don’t know how this happened. We’re heartbroken. My wife hasn’t stopped crying since this afternoon. We’re a small company. I’m a father and a grandfather, and we are devastated. We have no clue what went wrong.”
Authorities have confirmed that the pilot was fully licensed and experienced. Although the weather was somewhat misty, conditions were deemed safe for flying. Divers recovered the helicopter’s black box, which will be analyzed in the coming days to shed more light on the sequence of events that led to the crash.
This horrific event serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly life can change. A joyful celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy, leaving loved ones and strangers alike grappling with the fragility of life. As investigators continue to piece together what went wrong, the public mourns a family whose dream vacation ended in sorrow. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below—and share this story so others can add their voices too.
