New Jersey: At least six people were killed after their sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York on Thursday. Among the deceased were a family of five Spanish tourists, including three children, and the pilot of the chopper.
The victims included Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, three children and the pilot, a person briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press. Several videos of the moment when the helicopter, a Bell 206, crashed surfaced online. The incident took place near the shoreline of Jersey City.
Moments When The Chopper Crashed:
The video of the crash showed parts of the aircraft tumbling through the air into the water. A witness, Bruce Wall, told the news agency that he saw the chopper "falling apart" in midair, with the tail and propeller coming off. In the visuals it could be seen that the propeller was still spinning without the helicopter as it fell.
Photos Of Spanish Family Moments Before Boarding The Family:
Notably, photos posted on the helicopter company's website showed the couple and their children smiling moments before boarding the flight. Mayor Eric Adams said the flight started at a downtown heliport around 3 pm.
Authorities have recovered the bodies from the river. The flight north along the Manhattan skyline and then back south toward the Statue of Liberty lasted less than 18 minutes, reported The Associated Press.
A rescue operation was launched immediately. As per the report, rescue boats circled the submerged chopper within minutes of impact near the end of a long maintenance pier for a ventilation tower serving the Holland Tunnel.
