Hudson River helicopter crash: what we know so far and who were the victims 

The United States (US) is once again reeling after the nation witnessed another tragedy unfold above the skies of one of its world-famous cities. 

On April 10, 2025, a Bell 206 L-4 helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, departed from a downtown Manhattan heliport with a family of five and a pilot on board for a sight-seeing tour of the city.  

According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, after leaving the heliport shortly before 15:00 the Bell 206 helicopter “flew south before turning to fly north along the Manhattan shoreline up the Hudson River”.  

At 15:08, the helicopter reached the George Washington Bridge and then turned again to fly south along the New Jersey shoreline.  

“Shortly thereafter, the aircraft lost control and hit the water just a few feet off the coast of Pier A Park in Hoboken,” explained Tisch during a press conference at Pier 40 on the West Side of Manhattan. 

Christopher Penler / Shutterstock.comThe passenger victims have since been confirmed as being two adults and three children. Four crash victims died at the scene, while two more passed away in local hospitals. 

New York Police Department divers pulled four people from the crash site and New York Fire Department divers recovered an additional two victims. 

According to The Telegraph, the CEO of New York Helicopters, Michael Roth, said the deceased pilot “called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel”. 

“It should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive,” Roth told the British newspaper. 

The Associated Press confirmed the passenger victims as Siemens Executive Agustin Escobar, his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal and their three children. The pilot has not been identified. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams says a family of Spanish tourists, including three children, died Thursday in a helicopter crash in the Hudson River that killed six people. pic.twitter.com/07y6jRwQqf— The Associated Press (@AP) April 10, 2025 Commenting on the tragedy, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Bell 206 helicopter, registered N216MH and owned by Meridian Helicopters, was submerged in the Hudson River. 

The FAA declared that the incident will be investigated by the agency and the National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB).  

In a short statement, the NTSB confirmed that a quick response team had been deployed to the crash scene and Chair Jennifer Homendy will serve as spokesperson. 

In a social media post, US President Donald Trump wrote: “Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. Looks like six people, the pilot, two adults, and three children, are no longer with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims.”  

He added: “Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his talented staff are on it. Announcements as to exactly what took place, and how, will be made shortly!” 

What happened in the Hudson River helicopter crash?

With the FAA and the NTSB still investigating the incident, little is known about what caused the crash and any suggestions at this stage are merely speculation. 

Footage has been shared on social media of the moment the helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, with the rotors appearing not to be attached to the aircraft.  

JUST IN: 6 people are confirmed to be deceased in the Hudson River helicopter crash, according to the Associated Press. The chopper’s propeller was seen detached from the helicopter, spinning into the water. According to a witness who spoke with NBC, the chopper blade just… pic.twitter.com/EMpWMJC9el— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 10, 2025 The helicopter is seen impacting with the water while inverted and a witness described the aircraft as “falling apart” in midair, according to the Associated Press. 

The helicopter crashes into the water and a rotor appears to land several meters away around a second later. 

More details on the crash victims 

Spanish publication El National has claimed that the family who perished in the accident are from Barcelona, Spain.  

While it has been widely reported that male adult passenger victim was a Siemens executive, according to El National, Mercè Camprubí Montal is the great-granddaughter of Agustí Montal Galobart, President of FC Barcelona in the 1940s and 1950s, and granddaughter of Agustí Montal Costa, President of FC Barcelona from 1969 to 1977. 

What the helicopter crash witnesses saw

Dani Horbiak, a New Jersey, resident told Reuters that she saw the crash while working from home.  

“I looked out my window right here, and I saw the helicopter falling to pieces, and I watched multiple pieces splashed down into the river below, and I was wondering what happened,” said Horbiak. 

We’re following reports of a helicopter crash in the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey. At this time, based on ADS-B data and the location of SAR activity, we believe the aircraft involved to be N216MH, a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV.https://t.co/hp2b2oU5Vc pic.twitter.com/kGLiU7V6rc— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) April 10, 2025 Another witness, Avi Rakesh, told NBC News that he saw a helicopter rotor blade come away from the aircraft. 

“I don’t know what happened to the tail, but it just straight up dropped. It dropped feet away from Holland Tunnel, and I can’t imagine if it hit it,” Rakesh said. 

Lesly Camacho, a restaurant worker based near to the crash site, told the Associated Press that the helicopter was spinning out of control with “a bunch of smoke coming out”. 

What New York Helicopters said

The CEO of New York Helicopters, Michael Roth, told the New York Post that he was “utterly devastated” upon hearing about the tragedy. 

“I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated,” said Roth. 

Christopher Penler / Shutterstock.comRoth explained that he had seen the video of the crash and remarked that the “main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter”. 

“I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years being in business, in the helicopter business. The only thing I could guess, I got no clue, is that it either had a bird strike or the main rotor blades failed. I have no clue. I don’t know,” Roth told the New York Post. 

Previous NTSB reports involving New York Helicopters

According to the Wall Street Journal, NTSB records show that a Bell 206L-3 operated by New York Helicopters crashed from around 20 feet off the ground during a hard landing in 2015. 

The paper also noted that, in 2013, a New York Helicopters-operated Bell 206 lost engine power during a tour, forcing the pilot to perform an emergency landing on the Hudson River. 

The pilot and four passengers were not hurt and were rescued from the aircraft. 

This is a developing story.

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