A tragic helicopter crash in New York City on Thursday killed Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, their three children, and the pilot, after the aircraft broke apart mid-air and plunged upside-down into the Hudson River. The sightseeing flight, operated by New York Helicopters, lasted under 18 minutes before disaster struck near Jersey City, N.J., drawing rapid response from rescue teams.
Witnesses described the chopper disintegrating in flight, with its tail and spinning propeller detaching. Videos confirmed a catastrophic mechanical failure, likely involving the main rotor striking the tail, leaving no chance of survival. The FAA identified the model as a Bell 206, a widely used aircraft now under NTSB investigation.
Siemens CEO Roland Busch mourned Escobar, calling the loss “immense.” The crash, the city’s first helicopter fatality since 2019, renews scrutiny over air traffic above Manhattan, which has seen 38 helicopter-related deaths since 1977.
Source: Swifteradio.com
