On April 10, 2025, a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing six people — including Agustin Escobar, former CEO of Siemens Spain, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children, ages 4, 5, and 11. The family, visiting from Barcelona, posed smiling for photos moments before boarding the doomed flight.
“Where is the tail? Tail rotor??” one viewer questioned as crash footage showed the aircraft missing key components midair. Witnesses reported hearing a “boom” before the helicopter broke apart. “It was falling apart probably 15 feet before it actually fell,” recalled Bruce Wall.
The Bell 206 helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter, plunged into the river just 15 minutes after takeoff. The pilot also died. Divers rescued two passengers alive, but they later died at the hospital.
“He was such a great person — kind, steady, and always there when you needed him,” shared former colleague Juan Ignacio Diaz about Escobar.
Authorities, including the FAA and NTSB, are investigating, with ongoing recovery efforts and growing concern over potential mechanical failure or negligence.
