A sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York on Thursday, killing all six people on board, including three children and a family visiting from Spain, authorities confirmed.
The victims included the pilot and a Spanish family, two of whom were initially rushed to the hospital but later died from their injuries.
“At this time, all six victims have been removed from the water. And sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams during a press briefing. He earlier described the incident as a “heartbreaking and tragic crash.”
While officials have yet to release the victims’ names, U.S. media outlets have identified one of the deceased as Agustin Escobar, a Spanish executive with global tech firm Siemens.
Following the crash, the helicopter’s skids were visible jutting out of the river near a tunnel ventilation structure, as police and fire department boats from both New York and neighboring New Jersey responded swiftly to the scene.
Thick clouds and gusty winds hampered air operations, with local broadcaster NBC4 reporting that even their news helicopter was grounded due to poor weather.
An eyewitness told AFP that the helicopter appeared to malfunction mid-air, saying its rotor blades “shattered in the sky.”
Former President Donald Trump responded to the incident on social media, calling it a “terrible” tragedy.
