A tragic helicopter tour in New York City ended in devastating loss when aircraft fuel issues led to a fatal crash in the Hudson River.
According to Daily Mail, all six people aboard, including Siemens Spain CEO Agustín Escobar, his wife, three children, and the pilot, died when their tour helicopter plunged into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon after reporting fuel problems.
The incident occurred around 3:15 p.m. near the New Jersey side of the Hudson River off Lower Manhattan's tip. Emergency services received distress calls at 3:17 p.m., just 17 minutes after the helicopter's departure from downtown Manhattan.
Michael Roth, the 71-year-old owner of the New York Helicopter tour company, shared the pilot's last communication. The pilot had radioed about needing to land for fuel, with an estimated three-minute arrival time. When the aircraft failed to appear after 20 minutes, another company pilot discovered the wreckage.
Roth expressed his company's devastation over the incident. His statement revealed the emotional toll on the entire organization, particularly noting his wife's continued distress over the tragedy.
Heartbreaking photos showed the Spanish family posing on the helipad and inside the aircraft moments before their fatal flight. The images captured their final moments together before the devastating crash.
The Bell 206L-4 helicopter, registered as N216MH, took off from the Wall Street Heliport. It completed a circle near the Statue of Liberty before heading up the Hudson River toward the George Washington Bridge at approximately 1,000 feet.
Weather conditions at the time included cloudy skies with winds between 10 and 15 mph, gusting up to 25 mph. Despite good surface visibility of 10 miles, the approaching weather system brought light rain to the area. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter "split in half" before crashing near Pier 40. One observer described hearing what sounded like a "sonic boom" before the aircraft's rapid descent.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop announced that the Jersey City Police Department would lead the investigation until National Transportation Safety Board officials arrive at the scene.
The incident adds to a concerning pattern of helicopter accidents in New York City. Statistics show at least 32 fatalities from helicopter crashes in the city since 1977. The most recent previous incident occurred in 2018 when five passengers drowned after their helicopter crashed into the East River. That accident was attributed to the aircraft's tail getting caught on the fuel shutoff lever.
Prior to the tragic accident, Escobar had been leading Siemens' Spanish operations since his 2022 appointment as CEO. His career included extensive experience in Spain's energy sector from 1998 to 2010.
The Spanish Consulate of New York City is working closely with authorities regarding the incident. The Spanish Foreign Ministry's communications team confirmed their involvement in handling the tragic situation. Michael Roth of New York Helicopter expressed the profound impact of the loss:
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. 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.
The helicopter crash that claimed six lives in the Hudson River has left a devastating impact across multiple communities. The victims included Siemens Spain CEO Agustín Escobar, his wife, their three children, and the pilot, whose identity remains unreleased. The aircraft experienced fuel-related issues shortly after takeoff from downtown Manhattan, leading to its crash near the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. As Jersey City Police Department leads the initial investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board is expected to conduct a thorough examination of the incident's cause and contributing factors.
