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The helicopter that crashed on Thursday afternoon into the Hudson River in New York was carrying a Spanish family consisting of the CEO of Siemens Spain, Agustín Escobar; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children aged 4, 5, and 11 years.
The family, who resided in Barcelona, had arrived in New York for tourist purposes on the same day as the accident.
Circulating on social media are photos that the couple and their children took shortly before boarding the helicopter.
The accident occurred around 3:15 p.m. (local time) when the aircraft from New York Helicopter Tours fell from the sky after reportedly losing its tail.
The device crashed violently into the water, in an area near the lower part of Manhattan.
The businessman Agustín Escobar, 50 years old, had been leading the Spanish division of Siemens since 2022, although he had already been at the helm of Siemens Mobility for the southwest of Europe since 2019.
With over two decades of experience in the company, he held key roles in sectors such as mobility, infrastructure, and energy management, both in Europe and Latin America and North America.
The wife of Escobar, Mercè Camprubí Montal, had a notable lineage connected to the history of the Football Club Barcelona: she was the great-granddaughter of Agustí Montal Galobart, president of the club in the 40s and 50s; and the granddaughter of Agustí Montal Costa, who presided over the organization between 1969 and 1977.
Donald Trump reacts to the accident
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, reacted through his social media platform Truth Social, calling the images of the disaster "horrible" and sending condolences: "God bless the families and friends."
Trump added that the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his team are working on the investigation.
The Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, has also reacted with sorrow, describing what happened as an "unimaginable tragedy."
The U.S. authorities confirmed that the pilot was a 21-year-old young man, whose identity has yet to be revealed.
According to the New York Times, which cites a senior security official, the family decided to rent a helicopter for a scenic sightseeing flight over the city.
However, what promised to be an unforgettable experience ended in tragedy.
Witnesses and local media reported that the aircraft "apparently lost its tail" before plunging several dozen meters into the waters of the Hudson, which at this time of year have temperatures close to 7°C.
Ongoing investigations and possible causes
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a formal investigation to clarify the causes of the accident.
Michael Roth, executive director of New York Helicopter Tours, expressed his shock.
“I haven’t seen anything like this in the 30 years I’ve been in the business,” he said, pointing out that hypotheses such as a mechanical failure or an impact with a large bird are being considered.
The tourism company had already recorded incidents in the past.
In 2013, one of its helicopters had to make an emergency landing while transporting four Swedish tourists.
On that occasion, no fatalities were reported.
Roth, in previous statements to the Wall Street Journal, claimed at that time that the device underwent daily inspections, although he admitted he had "no idea why" it malfunctioned mid-flight.
Since 1977, at least 32 individuals have died in helicopter accidents in New York City, according to U.S. media reports.
The most recent incident occurred in 2019, when an aircraft collided with the roof of a skyscraper in restricted airspace. Another similar event took place in 2018, when five people died as an aircraft fell into the East River.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Helicopter Accident in New York
Who were the victims of the helicopter accident in New York?
The victims of the accident were a Spanish family consisting of Agustín Escobar, the executive director of Siemens Spain, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children aged 4, 5, and 11 years old. They had all arrived in New York for tourism on the same day of the accident.
What is known about the causes of the helicopter accident?
The exact causes of the accident are still unknown, but it is believed that the helicopter lost its tail before falling into the Hudson River. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a formal investigation to determine the causes of the incident.
What was the government's reaction to the accident?
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, expressed his condolences on his social media platform Truth Social, describing the images of the disaster as "horrible." He also mentioned that the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, is leading the investigation into the accident. Additionally, the Spanish President, Pedro Sánchez, described the incident as an "unimaginable tragedy."
What was the itinerary of the Spanish family before the accident?
The family had arrived in New York from Barcelona on the same day of the accident to take a panoramic sightseeing flight over the city by helicopter. What promised to be an unforgettable experience ended in tragedy.
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