Siemens CEO, Family Among 6 Killed in Hudson River Crash
The April 10, 2025, aerial sightseeing tour helicopter crash into the Hudson River in New York City claimed all six lives onboard.
Hudson River Helicopter Crash Kills 6, Including Siemens CEO, Family
6 individuals were on board aboard a helicopter that crashed on the Hudson River in New York city on April 10, 2025. The victims of the helicopter crash were Agustín Escobar, CEO of Siemens Spain, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, their three children aged 4, 5, and 11 years, and the 36-year-old pilot. These people arrived from Barcelona the day before to enjoy their sightseeing tour over Manhattan.
The Incident
The Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV helicopter from New York Helicopter Tours was scheduled to leave Downtown Manhattan Heliport at approximately 14:59 EDT. The flight would include circling the Statue of Liberty and flying along the west side of Manhattan to the north. At approximately 15:17, near the George Washington Bridge, the helicopter suffered an in-flight breakup and crashed upside down into the Hudson River near Pier 40 . The April 10, 2025, aerial sightseeing tour helicopter crash into the Hudson River in New York City claimed all six lives onboard. Among them is the CEO of Siemens Spain, Agustin Escobar, along with his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three kids, aged 4, 5, and 11.
The Bell 206 helicopter operated by New York Helicopters was on routine duty, departing from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport just before it crashed near Pier 40 following in-flight breakup. Eyewitnesses to the destruction saw the aircraft splitting before the descent into the river. The victims were retrieved by emergency responders, four of them certified dead on the scene and two died later in the hospital. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration. The tragedy has rekindled calls for scrutiny on the potential safety of helicopter tours in metropolitan cities.
Eyewitness Accounts and Emergency Response
Witnesses reported hearing loud noises before seeing the helicopter break apart mid-air, with debris falling into the river . Emergency responders from the NYPD and FDNY arrived promptly, recovering all six victims. Four were pronounced dead at the scene, while two succumbed to their injuries at the hospital .
Investigation and Possible Causes
The crash has become the subject of a joint investigation between the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to preliminary reports, however, it was indicated that the helicopter broke up while in the course of flight, although the cause was recently determined. A consensus was reached, however, that cloudy wanes and winds gusty to 21 mph prevailed during the period. before communications were lost, the pilot was reported to have sent an emergency alarm call about an urgent need to land.   
Reactions and Condolences
New York City Mayor Eric Adams shared deep sorrow regarding the incident and said, “Our hearts go out to the families of those who were onboard”. The disaster was described by Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as “an unimaginable tragedy” and also sent condolences to the families of the victims. 
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Wider Issues
Of course, this incident brought renewed concern about helicopter tourism in densely populated urban areas. The NTSB findings will be important in determining whether to modify legislation aimed at avoiding such tragedies in the future.
The tragedy is very severe as it involves Agustín Escobar and his family, and corporate and community pillars are hit. These authorities are now investigating further to find solutions and avoid such an incident from recurring.
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