New York Helicopter Crash: 6 Dead Including Siemens CEO and Family

A tragic helicopter crash in New York City's Hudson River on Thursday claimed the lives of all six people aboard, including three children. According to Reuters, the victims included a Spanish family and the pilot, as confirmed by Mayor Eric Adams during a press briefing.

Two individuals were initially rushed to a hospital but later died from their injuries, AFP reported.

While authorities have yet to release the names of the deceased officially, the New York Post identified the passengers as Agustín Escobar - President and CEO of Siemens in Spain - along with his wife and their three children.

"All six victims have been recovered from the water and, tragically, all have been pronounced dead," Mayor Adams said, describing the crash as "heartbreaking and tragic."

Reacting to the incident, former U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, calling it a "terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River." He expressed condolences, saying, "Looks like six people - the pilot, two adults, and three children - are no longer with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims." He added that Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and his team are investigating the incident.

According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the Bell 206 helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Tours, took off around 3 p.m. from a downtown helipad. It flew north over the Hudson River before turning south near the George Washington Bridge. The chopper crashed minutes later - flipping upside down before submerging near Lower Manhattan around 3:15 p.m.

Dramatic videos posted on social media showed a large object plunging into the river, followed moments later by what appeared to be a helicopter blade. Emergency response teams quickly swarmed the area with police and rescue boats.

Eyewitness Bruce Wall told the Associated Press he saw the helicopter disintegrating midair. "The tail and the propeller came off," he said, adding that the propeller was still spinning independently as it fell.

New York's skyline and rivers often see high helicopter traffic from both commercial and private tours. This latest crash adds to a troubling history - including a 2018 East River helicopter accident that killed five and a 2009 midair collision over the Hudson that claimed nine lives.