An eight-year-old girl was photographed smiling in a helicopter cockpit just 16 minutes before a devastating crash in New York’s Hudson River killed her, her parents, and two siblings. The family, visiting from Barcelona, was celebrating the girl’s ninth birthday and her mother’s 40th.

“They were celebrating the mom’s 40th birthday with the tourist helicopter flight,” said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.

The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter, took off from the Wall Street Heliport and flew near the Statue of Liberty before crashing at 3:15 p.m. near Pier 40. Witnesses described it “falling apart” mid-air, with the tail and rotor separating. One said, “It was horrifying… I saw the helicopter 10 feet above the water falling.”

Experts believe a mechanical failure caused the main rotor to slice the tail. “It created an unrecoverable event,” said aviation attorney Jim Brauchle. Another expert added, “It was going to crash… you’re just a falling brick.”

The pilot, who radioed about low fuel minutes before, also died. Mayor Eric Adams called it “a real unfortunate situation. Our heart goes out to the family members.”