Spanish Family Loses Their Lives After Helicopter Crash

Image by Unsplash

A devastating helicopter crash in Manhattan has claimed the lives of a Spanish family taking a sightseeing flight over the Hudson River.

The accident occurred around 3 p.m. Thursday. A helicopter operated by New York Helicopter took off from a heliport in Lower Manhattan. On board were Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal; their three children, ages 4, 8, and 10; and the pilot. Authorities confirmed that the six diedThe family was celebrating one of the children's ninth birthday.

Mid-Flight Collapse

While the helicopter was in the air, the tail and main rotor detached, causing the aircraft to spin out of control, leaving a trail of smoke before crashing into the Hudson River. Videos shared on social media showed parts of the helicopter sinking as rescue boats surrounded the area.

Authorities recovered the victims' bodies and extracted the helicopter wreckage that same night using a floating crane. The low water temperature, approximately 7 degrees Celsius, hampered recovery efforts. According to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the bodies were recovered from the river that same night.

Ongoing Research

The exact cause of the accident has not yet been determined. The helicopter was a Bell 206, a model typically used for tourism and media purposes. The Board National Transportation Safety is investigating the incident and is expected to release more details in the coming days.

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Fountain: The Associated Press