An investigation is currently underway into a tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of six individuals, including the pilot and a family of Spanish tourists. The helicopter plunged into the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey on Thursday afternoon.
A wreckage examination is in progress, as officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have already pulled off the helicopter’s engine and other components for closer inspection. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy announced at a news conference on Friday that divers are still working to recover additional pieces of the helicopter, such as the main rotor, the main transmission, the roof structure, and the tail structure.
Homendy has asked the public to send any photos or videos of the crash to the NTSB to assist in their investigation. Among the deceased were Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, 39, and their three children, aged 4, 8, and 10. Officials noted that the family had traveled to New York City to join Escobar, who was in the United States for a business trip, according to Jersey City Mayor Fulop.
The tragic timing of the accident weighed heavily on the community, as the family died just one day before the 8-year-old’s birthday. Mayor Eric Adams expressed condolences stating, “We are working with [the medical examiner] to expedite the release of the family so they can fly back to Spain.”
Joan Camprubí, the brother of Merce Camprubi Montal, joined Adams at a press conference Saturday afternoon and conveyed his grief on behalf of the family. “They left together, they left without suffering, and they left with a smile on their faces,” Camprubí said, reflecting on his family’s loss.
He expressed gratitude for the support the family has received from Spain, Catalonia, the U.S., New York, New Jersey, and Siemens. Camprubí further stated that the family wishes to move the bodies to Spain promptly, so they can “rest in peace together.”
Adams, during his visit, added a personal touch to the memorial by dropping flowers as a symbolic gesture for the lives lost in the helicopter crash. He also made note of Sean Johnson, the pilot, who was 36 years old and had served in the Navy. “He fought to defend his country,” Adams remarked.
The NTSB indicated that Johnson had accumulated 788 hours of total flight time. Friends of Johnson, like fellow Navy helicopter pilot Matt Klier, described him as “an amazing pilot” and emphasized that flying was his greatest passion.
The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Tours, fell into the Hudson River in a section that is approximately five feet deep, shortly after departing from the Wall Street Heliport. Officials reported that the crash occurred just over 15 minutes after takeoff. Video footage from the crash depicted the helicopter descending without its tail rotor or main rotor blade. When rescuers reached the site, the helicopter had flipped upside down in the frigid 50-degree water.
A representative of New York Helicopter Tours expressed the company’s devastation over the incident, stating, “My staff hasn’t stopped crying.” According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, four victims were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, while two others later succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
Fulop further indicated that medical personnel at the Jersey City Medical Center did all they could to save the injured passengers transported there after the crash. Concerns about air traffic over the Hudson River have previously been raised by city officials, and Fulop expressed hope that this tragic incident would bring more attention to safety matters in the area.
Former President Donald Trump described the crash as “terrible” in a social media post, calling the footage of the event “horrendous.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez referred to the news as an “unimaginable tragedy” in a post on X.
Witnesses to the crash recounted harrowing experiences, with Dani Horbiak saying she witnessed the helicopter “fall out of the sky” from her apartment window. “I heard five or six loud noises that sounded almost like gunshots in the sky and saw pieces fall off, then watched it fall into the river,” she reported. Another witness described hearing a sound similar to a “sonic boom” and watching as the helicopter seemingly split in two, with rotor pieces flying off.
The chopper has been identified as a Bell 206 helicopter by the Federal Aviation Administration. This flight was noted to be the sixth of the day for the helicopter company, which has been operating for over 30 years and has maintained a fairly strong safety record. Past incidents involving the company reported by the NTSB included a hard landing in New Jersey in 2015 and an emergency landing in 2013.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of lives and reflects on the tragedy of the event.
image source from：https://abcnews.go.com/US/authorities-search-answers-deadly-tourist-new-york-city/story?id=120707831
