At around 3.17pm local time yesterday (10 April), a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York with a family of tourists killed.
Witnesses said they saw the chopper ‘split in half’ mid-flight as the pilot made a radio call warning that it ‘needed fuel’.
An investigation is currently under way as the ‘devastated’ owner speaks out on the incident.
Officials said the flight was operated by New York Helicopter Tours as CEO Michael Roth described the incident as ‘devastation’.
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The helicopter had six people on board, a Spanish family of five made up of three children, Siemens executive Agustin Escobar and his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, as well as the pilot. It’s understood the family had arrived in New York from Barcelona earlier that day.
"I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated. I’m absolutely devastated," Roth told the New York Post.
“The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter.”
He added that in his 30 years being in ‘the helicopter business’ he hasn’t ‘seen anything like that’.
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Roth went on to speculate a potential cause of the crash: “The only thing I could guess – I got no clue – is that it either had a bird strike or the main rotor blades failed. I have no clue. I don’t know.”
The CEO added: “This is horrific. But you gotta remember something, these are machines and they break.”
Witnesses told PA news agency that they had heard what sounded like ‘several gunshots in a row, almost, in the air’ before looking out the window to see the helicopter ‘splash in several pieces into the river’.
Another said they saw it ‘falling apart’ in midair as one said it was spinning uncontrollably with ‘a bunch of smoke coming out’ before hitting the water.
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Aviation lawyer Justin Green, who was a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps, said it’s possible the helicopter’s main rotors struck the tail boom therefore breaking it apart and causing the cabin to free-fall.
“They were dead as soon as whatever happened, happened,” he said. “There’s no indication they had any control over the craft. No pilot could have prevented that accident once they lost the lifts. It’s like a rock falling to the ground. It’s heartbreaking.”
New York City mayor Eric Adams said: "Our hearts go out to the families of those who were onboard. All six have been removed from the water, and sadly all six victims have been pronounced deceased."
A Siemens Mobility Spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar (49) and his family lost their lives. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all their loved ones.”
LADbible has contacted the NYPD and US Coast Guard for comment.
Jess Battison