The Bell 206 helicopter had been flying over Manhattan for about 15 minutes before it suddenly broke apart and plunged upside-down into the river near the border of New Jersey and New York, across from Manhattan, around 3 p.m. local time.
All six people on board were killed, including the pilot and three children, New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed.
It was the aircraft’s sixth tour flight of the day, and chilling video shows the helicopter falling without its tail rotor or a main rotor blade. Only the skids were visible above the water after impact. The water temperature at the time was around 50°F (10°C), offering little chance of survival.
Among the victims were Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal - an energy industry professional - and their three children, according to details reported by the Associated Press.
Escobar had worked at Siemens for over 27 years and was currently global CEO for rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility; Camprubí Montal held a senior role at Siemens Energy in Barcelona.
Preliminary analysis suggests a catastrophic mechanical failure may have caused the aircraft to break apart midair, with aviation experts saying the pilot had no chance to regain control.
Helicopter crashes into Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey. Photo: SARAH YENESEL/PAP/EPA
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Source: IAR/PAP/AP/X/@AP/@GeneralMCNews