On Thursday, April 10, 2025, a devastating helicopter crash occurred over the Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board. The victims included Agustín Escobar, CEO of Siemens Spain, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, their three young children, and the pilot.
The Flight and Crash
The Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Charter Inc., departed from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at 2:59 p.m. EDT for a sightseeing tour. Approximately 18 minutes into the flight, at around 3:17 p.m., the helicopter experienced an in-flight breakup and crashed into the Hudson River near Newport, Jersey City, opposite Pier 40 in New York City. Witnesses reported hearing loud noises before seeing the helicopter fall apart mid-air, with debris falling into the river
Victims
The passengers were a family from Barcelona, Spain: Agustín Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 8, and 10. Escobar was a prominent executive at Siemens, serving as President and CEO of Siemens Spain and CEO of Siemens Mobility Southwest Europe. His wife, Mercè, was a global marketing manager at Siemens Energía and a descendant of FC Barcelona’s historic leaders . The pilot, a 36-year-old, also perished in the crash
Emergency Response and Investigation
Emergency responders, including NYPD and FDNY divers, arrived promptly at the crash site. Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries at a hospital. Recovery crews hoisted the mangled helicopter out of the water just after 8 p.m. using a floating crane . The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the cause of the crash. The FAA temporarily prohibited drone flights near the crash site unless specifically authorized .
Reactions
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed condolences, stating, “Our hearts go out to the families of those who were onboard.” Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter Charter Inc., said, “The only thing I can tell you is that we are devastated.” He added that he had not seen such an incident in his 30 years in the helicopter business . Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the incident as “an unimaginable tragedy” in a post on X
This tragic event marks the first helicopter crash in New York City since 2019, reigniting concerns over the safety of sightseeing flights in densely populated urban areas.
