Off The Record
New York Helicopter Tragedy: Tech Executive And Family Among Six Killed
A helicopter tour turned deadly on Thursday, April 10, when a Bell 206 aircraft crashed into the Hudson River near Lower Manhattan.
All six people onboard, including a Spanish technology executive and his family, perished.
The helicopter took off from the Wall Street Heliport at approximately 3:00 p.m. Within 16 minutes, the trip ended in disaster. At approximately 3:15 p.m., it crashed into the Hudson River, close to the New Jersey shoreline.
Onboard was Agustín Escobar, president of Siemens Spain. He was accompanied by his wife and their three children.
The pilot, whose name has not been publicly released, was also killed. Escobar’s wife and children’s identities have not been confirmed by authorities.
The helicopter had circled the Statue of Liberty before heading up the Hudson. It was during that route that something went fatally wrong.
Footage shared on social media showed the aircraft plummeting into the water. Witnesses described a terrifying scene. One man said he heard a “sonic boom” just before the crash. Others claimed the helicopter appeared to “split in half” in mid-air.
Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopters, the company operating the aircraft, later confirmed what may have led to the crash. The aircraft was out of fuel.
Roth described one of the pilot’s last radio calls. “He [the pilot] 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.
He added that after the pilot failed to return, another company pilot flew over the river to investigate. “And saw the helicopter upside down.” Roth said the company is in mourning. “We’re all devastated. Every employee in our company is devastated. My wife has not stopped crying. The death of the child of any human being, is a monumental disaster,” he told MailOnline.
The Escobar family had reportedly just arrived in New York that same day. The helicopter ride was one of their first activities. Chilling photos have emerged showing the family smiling and posing outside the helicopter shortly before takeoff.
The crash occurred near Pier 40. Emergency responders rushed to the scene. The helicopter was found submerged in the river. All six bodies were recovered.
No official cause of the crash has yet been confirmed. However, the fuel issue is central to ongoing investigations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are looking into the incident.
The accident is one of the deadliest helicopter crashes in New York City in nearly two decades.
President Donald Trump addressed the incident on his social media platform, Truth Social. “Terrible helicopter crash in New York City today,” he wrote.
He expressed condolences and confirmed federal involvement. “Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his staff are investigating. Announcements as to exactly what took place, and how, will be made shortly.”
The aircraft involved was a Bell 206, a commonly used helicopter model for short-range tours. It’s still unclear how long the helicopter was airborne before it began losing power or control.
Eyewitnesses remain shaken by what they saw. One local, who had been walking along the waterfront, said he saw the tail of the aircraft spin uncontrollably before the craft “dropped like a stone.”
Others described the impact as violent, with debris scattering on the water’s surface. Emergency crews used boats and diving teams to access the wreckage. Passersby captured footage of the aftermath, with first responders seen huddling around the crash zone.
The tragedy has raised renewed concerns about safety regulations for aerial tours over the city. New York has a history of helicopter-related accidents, prompting calls for stricter oversight.
While the company involved has not commented on possible mechanical failure, its operations have come under scrutiny before. New York Helicopters is one of several operators offering aerial views of Manhattan, with departures often packed tightly in busy tourist windows.
This latest crash has cast a shadow over that industry.
International condolences have also poured in. In Spain, where Escobar was a prominent business leader, media outlets mourned the “catastrophic loss.” Siemens Spain released a brief statement honoring Escobar’s legacy and expressing heartbreak.
No timeline has yet been released for the NTSB’s final report, which may take months. In the meantime, Roth and his team say they are fully cooperating with federal investigators.
“There is nothing worse,” Roth said, “than the loss of innocent life, especially children.”
As New York reels from the tragedy, safety officials, grieving families, and a shocked public await answers.
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