A family of five visiting from Spain, along with the pilot, were killed in a tragic helicopter crash during a joyride over Manhattan to celebrate a birthday. The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, appeared to break apart midair and plunge upside down into the Hudson River. The crash happened near the Hoboken shore and all six victims, including three children, were pulled from the water dead.
The victims were identified as Agustín Escobar and Merce Camprubi Montal from Spain, along with their three children. Escobar was a senior executive at Siemens and was in town for a business trip, while Montal was celebrating her 40th birthday. The third adult victim was the pilot of the helicopter. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the incident, with no clear cause determined yet.
The crash was witnessed by many, with reports of a loud noise and the helicopter breaking apart. The rotor blades fell into the water separately from the main body of the aircraft. It is suspected that the crash may have been caused by mast bumping or sudden inflight failure, potentially prompted by a bird strike or hardware issue. Recovery efforts are ongoing to retrieve the wreckage from the Hudson River. The local heliport management firm, Skyport, expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragic incident.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
