Six dead after sightseeing helicopter crashes into NY's Hudson River
3 Min Read
Police commissioner Jessica Tisch says four of the victims were declared dead at the scene, and the remaining two succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
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First responders are seen near the landing skids of a helicopter after it crashed into the Hudson River in the Newport neighborhood of Jersey City, New Jersey, on April 10, 2025. (AFP)
Six people, including three children, were killed when a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York on Thursday, prompting a major water rescue operation, authorities confirmed.
The crash claimed the lives of everyone aboard: the pilot and a Spanish family visiting the city. Two victims were initially transported to a hospital but later died from their injuries.
"At this time, all six victims have been removed from the water. And sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased," said New York Mayor Eric Adams at a press briefing, describing the incident as a “heartbreaking and tragic crash.”
BREAKING: Agustin Escobar, President and CEO of Siemens in Spain, along with his wife and their three children, were identified as the victims of the helicopter that plunged into the Hudson River in New York City on Thursday, according to the New York Post.
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) April 11, 2025
The New York… pic.twitter.com/cGOiJWGFAx
Authorities have not yet officially released the victims’ identities, but US media widely reported that one of the passengers was Agustin Escobar, a Spanish executive at global tech firm Siemens.
NBC4 reported that its news helicopter was grounded due to poor weather conditions, with gusty winds and dense cloud cover over the city at the time.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a Bell 206 helicopter and stated that it, along with the National Transportation Safety Board, would investigate the crash.
US President Donald Trump commented on the tragedy on Truth Social, calling it “terrible”. He added, "The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims."
The Hudson River, a busy shipping route, was the site of the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” when a US Airways plane made an emergency landing, saving all 155 passengers.
The river, which can reach depths of 200 feet (60 meters), had a water temperature of around 46°F (8°C) at the time, according to the US Geological Survey.
Mayor Adams said the Bell 206 helicopter had departed from the downtown Skyport at around 3 pm with three adults and three children aboard—all Spanish tourists.
"NYPD divers pulled four people from the crash site, and FDNY Divers recovered an additional two. Immediate lifesaving measures were undertaken on the vessels at the scene, as well as the adjoining pier," confirmed police commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Four of the victims were declared dead at the scene, and the remaining two succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, she added.
Commissioner Tisch explained the helicopter had flown south after takeoff, then north along the Manhattan shoreline toward the George Washington Bridge before turning back toward the downtown heliport, where it lost control and crashed near a Hoboken pier.
Brooklyn Borough President Mark Levine noted there have been about 30 helicopter crashes in New York since 1980 and urged tighter regulations on helicopter traffic in the city.
Read more: Chopper involved in DC crash was on drill to evacuate government staff
