Witness recalls what he heard as helicopter crashed into Hudson River killing family of five and pilot
A rotorcraft plunging into a New York waterway has resulted in the deaths of all six individuals aboard, comprising a five-member family. At 3:17pm Eastern Time on April 10, the aircraft, confirmed by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch as being run by New York Helicopters, tumbled into the Hudson River. Rescue teams launched a swift operation within moments as emergency personnel tried to determine if anyone had survived, before NYC Mayor Eric Adams later verified that all six people had perished.
Officials identified the victims as Barcelona-based Siemens executive Agustín Escobar, his spouse Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children aged 11, five and four. An unidentified pilot completed the casualty list. The aircraft owner, Michael Roth, 71, subsequently informed The Telegraph: "The pilot radioed that he was landing and needed fuel, and should have arrived in about three minutes, but he hadn't shown up 20 minutes later."
A bystander called Max described the incident to ABC News, stating he heard the catastrophe occur before witnessing its aftermath. "It produced a sound like a sonic boom so I gazed upward and literally saw the helicopter breaking into two parts, with the rotor flying away in the sky at high speed before plummeting straight into the water," he recounted.
"Nothing surfaced afterward - it must have simply sunk immediately, and then I just waited here and approximately five minutes later we began seeing police arrive. I've never witnessed anything similar in my existence," Max added. "I initially thought it was typical city noise, like a collision or perhaps a jet flying overhead - though that's probably unusual. But yes, just a loud bang on my right followed by whoop whoop [mimicking helicopter sounds] as I observed the propeller flying off much higher than the helicopter itself and crashing directly into the water. I'm not certain, but perhaps the tail separated?"
Max continued, "However, I definitely think the rotor detached and the main section plummeted directly into the water, so something must have malfunctioned with the rotor causing it to suddenly break off."
The aircraft departed from Downtown Manhattan at 2:59pm. According to ABC News, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) believes the vehicle was a Bell 206 model and was completing its sixth journey of the day. The National Transportation Safety Board plans to conduct a thorough examination into the disaster.
Former President Donald Trump shared his sympathies to the victims' relatives on Truth Social yesterday. "Dreadful helicopter accident in the Hudson River. It appears six individuals, the pilot, two grown-ups, and three youngsters, have passed away. The video of the incident is devastating," wrote the 78-year-old Republican candidate. "May God comfort the relatives and companions of the victims. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his capable team are addressing the situation. Statements about exactly what occurred, and how, will be released soon!"
