Tragedy Over Manhattan: Helicopter Crash Claims Six Lives in Hudson River

By Georgia Hermiston

A routine sightseeing tour turned catastrophic yesterday when a Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter operated by New York Helicopter Tours plunged into the Hudson River near Lower Manhattan, killing all six people on board. The victims included a family of five from Spain—Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11—along with the 36-year-old pilot. The crash, the deadliest helicopter incident in New York City since 2018, has reignited debates over the safety of tourist helicopter flights in the region’s crowded airspace.

The helicopter took off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at approximately 3:00 p.m. on April 10, 2025, for what was meant to be a scenic tour over the city’s iconic skyline. Just minutes into the flight, witnesses reported seeing the chopper in distress. “I saw it spinning, like it was out of control,” said Maria Gonzalez, a pedestrian near Battery Park. “There was a loud noise, and then I saw something break off—maybe a blade—before it went down.” Others described black smoke trailing from the aircraft or the helicopter flipping upside-down as it plummeted into the river near Jersey City.

Preliminary reports indicate the pilot radioed about low fuel shortly before the crash, though investigators have not confirmed whether this was a contributing factor. Eyewitness accounts and early analysis suggest a possible rotor blade failure, which may have severed the tail and rendered the helicopter uncontrollable. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading a joint investigation, with the wreckage recovered from the Hudson River late Thursday evening. Dive operations continued into Friday to ensure all debris was retrieved.

Emergency response was swift but grim. NYPD and FDNY divers, along with Coast Guard units, rushed to the scene, pulling all six victims from the water. Two were initially transported to a nearby hospital but were later pronounced dead. “This is a heartbreaking loss,” said FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. “Our teams did everything they could, but the outcome was devastating.”

The crash has sent shockwaves through the city and beyond, particularly for the victims’ hometown in Spain, where friends and colleagues mourned the loss of the Escobar-Camprubi family. Agustín Escobar was described as a dedicated professional and loving father, while Merce Camprubi Montal was known for her warmth and commitment to her children. The three young siblings, whose identities have been withheld pending family notification, were remembered as bright and full of life.

This tragedy marks the latest in a string of incidents involving tourist helicopters in New York City, raising questions about the safety of such operations. New York Helicopter Tours, the operator involved, has faced scrutiny in the past, including a 2019 crash in the East River that killed five passengers. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop was quick to call for action, stating, “Enough is enough. These tourist flights are a risk to residents and visitors alike. We need a ban or, at minimum, stricter oversight.” Local advocacy groups like Stop the Chop have echoed these sentiments, citing noise pollution and safety hazards as reasons to curb heli-tourism.

The FAA has grounded all Bell 206 helicopters operated by the company pending further investigation, and the NTSB expects to release a preliminary report within weeks. Meanwhile, the crash has prompted renewed calls for regulatory reform. In 2020, the city imposed restrictions on helicopter flights following public outcry, but critics argue these measures fall short. “We’ve been warning about this for years,” said City Councilmember Gale Brewer. “How many more tragedies before we act?”

As the investigation unfolds, the city mourns a family whose vacation ended in unimaginable loss and a pilot whose life was cut short. Memorials have begun to appear near the heliport, with flowers and candles lining the waterfront. For now, New Yorkers and visitors alike are left grappling with the fragility of life and the risks hovering just above their skyline.

Georgia Hermiston is a registered nurse and a freelance writer for Veritas Expositae

You can reach her at Georgia.hermiston@veritasexpositae.com