New York helicopter crash kills 6, including Siemens executive

On April 10, a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York, claiming the lives of all six people on board, including three adults and three children, city officials confirmed.

New York Mayor Eric Adams, speaking at a press briefing, said, “All six victims have been removed from the water. And sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased.” Among the dead are the pilot and a family of tourists from Spain, he added, Caliber.Az reports, citing German media.

On April 11, German conglomerate Siemens confirmed that one of the victims was Agustin Escobar, CEO of the company’s global rail infrastructure division, who died alongside his family. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Agustin Escobar and his family. Our deepest condolences go out to all of his relatives,” Siemens said in a statement.

What happened?

According to aviation authorities and eyewitness accounts, the helicopter took off at 2:59 p.m. local time (6:59 p.m. UTC) and crashed approximately 20 minutes later. Witnesses described seeing parts of the aircraft, including its propeller and tail, detach in midair before the helicopter plunged into the river upside down.

Emergency crews responded swiftly, with police and fire department divers recovering all six victims from the water. Four were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries later in hospital.

The crash occurred along the Hudson River, a major waterway west of Manhattan, which also gained fame in 2009 during the "Miracle on the Hudson"—a dramatic emergency landing of a US Airways jet in which all 155 passengers and crew survived.

Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to lead the probe.

By Khagan Isayev