On April 10, 2025, a sightseeing helicopter tragically crashed into the Hudson River near New York City, resulting in the deaths of all six individuals on board. The victims included a Spanish family of five—Siemens executive Agustín Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three young children—and the pilot.
The Bell 206L-4 Long Ranger IV helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Charter Inc., disintegrated midair approximately 16 minutes after departing from the Wall Street Heliport. Prior to the crash, the pilot radioed in a fuel emergency, indicating plans to return to the helipad. However, the aircraft never arrived.
Witnesses reported hearing a sound resembling gunshots before observing the helicopter break apart and plunge into the river. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, but four victims were pronounced dead immediately, and the remaining two succumbed to their injuries shortly thereafter.
The operator, New York Helicopter Charter Inc., has a history of aviation incidents, including a 2013 emergency landing in the Hudson and a 2015 crash in New Jersey. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and has faced scrutiny over its safety practices.
Investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash. Potential factors being examined include mechanical failure or a bird strike.
This tragic incident has prompted condolences from international leaders and renewed discussions about the safety of non-essential helicopter flights over densely populated areas.