Witnesses describe sound as helicopter slammed into Hudson River
On April 10, 2025, a sightseeing helicopter carrying a family of five from Barcelona, Spain, crashed into the Hudson River near Manhattan, New York. All six people on board, including the pilot, died.
The victims included Agustin Escobar, an executive at Siemens, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children (ages 4, 8, and 10). The family had just arrived in New York to celebrate one of the children’s birthdays.
The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, had been in the air for only 16 minutes when it lost control and spiraled into the river. Witnesses reported seeing the rotor blades separate mid-air before the crash. Some described the sound as a “sonic boom” and watched the aircraft break apart and plunge upside down into the water.
The pilot had radioed shortly before the crash saying he needed to return for fuel, but the helicopter never made it back.
Both the NTSB and FAA are now investigating. The company operating the tour, New York Helicopter, has had previous safety incidents and financial troubles.
This heartbreaking tragedy has raised serious concerns about tour helicopter safety in NYC.
