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Rescue teams were dispatched to a location along the Manhattan waterfront, near the far end of a long maintenance pier connected to one of the Holland Tunnel’s ventilation towers. The site, situated close to the busy tunnel infrastructure, prompted a swift response as authorities worked to secure the area and assess the situation.
Heartbreaking incident on Thursday, a sightseeing helicopter broke apart midair and plunged upside-down into the Hudson River, killing all six people on board. Among the victims were the pilot and a family of five Spanish tourists, including Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife, and their three children.
According to officials and reports by Reuters, the helicopter suddenly disintegrated in flight before crashing into the water. Video footage captured the moment a large object fell into the river, followed by helicopter blades, just seconds before emergency response teams arrived.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that all six bodies were recovered by divers and police marine units.
Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while the remaining two were transported to nearby hospitals, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
Following the crash, rescue boats and police vessels quickly surrounded the site where the helicopter had submerged, with only the landing gear visible above the waterline.
How did it crash?
The Bell 206 chopper was operated by New York Helicopter Tours, city Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Thousands of these choppers have been manufactured over the years for a variety of uses after it was initially developed for the US Army.
A breathtaking helicopter flight that took off from a downtown Manhattan heliport around 3 PM offered passengers a stunning view of the city’s iconic skyline. The journey soared northward, showcasing the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan, before circling back south toward the majestic Statue of Liberty. The entire aerial experience was wrapped up in less than 18 minutes, delivering a compact yet unforgettable glimpse of New York City from above.
A scenic helicopter tour ended in tragedy when the aircraft veered south after reaching the George Washington Bridge and crashed just minutes later. The helicopter went down upside down and became submerged in the Hudson River near Lower Manhattan, just off Hoboken, New Jersey, at approximately 3:15 PM, according to authorities.
Images shared on the helicopter tour company’s website showed the family smiling moments before boarding the aircraft for what was meant to be a joyful ride.
Rescue and recovery operations were launched immediately. By around 8 PM, crews managed to hoist the severely damaged helicopter from the water using a floating crane.
Aviation attorney and former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, Justin Green, suggested that the crash may have been caused by the helicopter’s main rotors striking the tail boom, leading to structural failure and a catastrophic free fall.
Videos from the scene suggest the tragic incident was caused by a “catastrophic mechanical failure,” leaving the pilot with no opportunity to save the helicopter, according to sources close to the investigation.
Crowded Skies Over Manhattan
Manhattan’s airspace is notoriously busy, filled with helicopters offering tourists breathtaking aerial views of iconic landmarks. A quick search on travel platforms like Viator reveals more than two dozen operators providing sightseeing flights and airport shuttle services.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to lead the investigation, alongside the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as authorities work to uncover what exactly went wrong.
A Troubling History
This isn’t the first time New York City has experienced a helicopter-related tragedy. In 2018, a charter helicopter crashed into the East River, killing all five passengers. The flight had been marketed as a “doors-off” photography experience, allowing guests to capture skyline views—an option that raised safety concerns even before the fatal incident.
Authorities continue to investigate the latest crash, as safety protocols in one of the world’s busiest helicopter corridors come under renewed scrutiny.
Helicopter safety has come under renewed scrutiny in the United States following a tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter on January 29 near Washington DC’s Reagan National Airport. The accident claimed the lives of 67 individuals, sparking intense debate in Congress over aviation safety protocols.
In response, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has permanently restricted helicopter traffic in the vicinity of Reagan National Airport. Authorities are also reviewing helicopter operations near other major airports across the country.
New York City has seen its own share of helicopter-related tragedies. Since 1977, at least 38 people have died in helicopter crashes in the city. Thursday’s incident marked the first helicopter crash in New York City since 2019, when a chopper struck the roof of a skyscraper, resulting in the pilot’s death.
Silence From the Helicopter Company
Efforts to contact New York Helicopters, the company involved in the latest crash, were unsuccessful. Phone calls to the company’s offices in both New York and New Jersey went unanswered, according to officials.
When contacted at his home, company owner Michael Roth declined to provide a statement. However, speaking briefly to the New York Post, Roth said he was “devastated” and had “no clue” as to why the crash occurred.
The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter,” he was quoted as saying.
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