Pilot of helicopter that crashed into New York's Hudson River and killed six has been identified
The pilot of the helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River yesterday (10 April) has been identified as 36-year-old former US Navy SEAL Sean Johnson.
All six people on board the helicopter were killed when it crashed into the river, with onlookers describing how the aircraft 'split in half' as it went down.
The New York Post reports that Johnson had recently moved to New York City for his aviation career.
Also on board the helicopter was a family of five from Spain, Agustín Escobar, the president of the Spanish branch of the technology company Siemens, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 5 and 11.
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The helicopter had been in the air for around 16 minutes and completed a circuit of the Statue of Liberty before flying over the Hudson River.
The helicopter dropped into the water at around 3.15pm local time yesterday, with the emergency services rushing to the scene.
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were rushed to hospital and later died before they 'sadly both succumbed to their injuries' as officials said.
A tribute posted on Facebook by Sean Johnson's friend Earl Watters confirmed that the 36-year-old had been flying the helicopter and said: "With a heavy heart I post this...Thanks to everyone that has reached out to me.
"Yes, the pilot of the helicopter crash in NY was my Co-Pilot and great friend on Boomer last year Sean Johnson. (Navy Veteran)The world has lost an all around great person and amazing friend.
"He definitely changed my life for the better and I just want to celebrate his life and how he lived. Always and forever a BOOMER crew member Godspeed Amigo."
Michael Roth, 71, the CEO of New York Helicopter Tours which operated the helicopter in question, said that Johnson had called in to say he was landing and 'needed fuel', but never arrived back.
He said that everyone there was 'devastated' over the aviation disaster
Roth said: "He [the pilot] called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn't arrive.
"We're all devastated. Every employee in our company is devastated. My wife has not stopped crying.
"The death of the child of any human being, is a monumental disaster."
Witnesses to the disaster saw the helicopter 'splitting in half' and footage from the scene shows how the aircraft's rotor blades were seen spinning in mid-air after having separated from the helicopter.
Authorities are investigating the crash.
Joe Harker