Sightseeing Tour Ends in Devastation as Helicopter Plunges into New York City Waters

A sightseeing helicopter tour over New York City turned catastrophic on Thursday afternoon when a Bell 206 helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing all six people on board. Among the victims were Agustín Escobar, President and CEO of Siemens in Spain, his wife, Merce Camprubí Montal, and their three young children, aged 4, 5, and 11. The pilot, whose identity has not yet been released, also perished in the tragedy.

The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Tours, took off from the Wall Street Heliport at approximately 2:59 p.m. EDT. It followed a scenic route north along the Manhattan skyline, reaching the George Washington Bridge before turning south. At around 3:17 p.m., near Pier A Park in Hoboken, New Jersey, the aircraft lost control and plummeted upside-down into the frigid waters of the Hudson River, just off the coast of lower Manhattan.

Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene, with some reporting that the helicopter appeared to break apart mid-air, losing its rotor blades before spiraling into the river. "It was like a nightmare," said Bruce Wall, a bystander near the crash site. "The tail and propeller just came off, and it was spinning so fast before it hit the water."

Emergency responders, including the New York Police Department (NYPD), Fire Department (FDNY), and U.S. Coast Guard, rushed to the scene. Divers pulled the victims from the submerged wreckage, but four were pronounced dead on-site, and the remaining two succumbed to their injuries at nearby hospitals. Debris, including parts of the helicopter and personal belongings, was seen floating in the river as rescue boats circled the area.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences during a press briefing, calling the incident "heartbreaking and tragic." "Our hearts go out to the family and those on board," he said. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also shared his grief, describing the crash as "an unimaginable tragedy" and offering support to the victims' loved ones.

Agustín Escobar, 52, was a prominent figure in the global technology and infrastructure sectors, having led Siemens Spain since December 2022 and serving as CEO of Siemens Mobility Southwest Europe. With over 27 years at Siemens, Escobar was celebrated for his contributions to mobility and transport innovation. His wife, Merce Camprubí Montal, worked as a global commercialization manager for Siemens Energy and was the great-granddaughter of a former Barcelona FC president. The couple, based in Barcelona, was vacationing in New York City with their children when the tragedy struck.