Tragic Helicopter Crash Claims Spanish Family in NYC
Heartbreaking new details are emerging from the helicopter crash that killed a family of five from Barcelona, Spain, during a sightseeing tour over New York City.
Just 18 minutes into the flight, the chopper lost control and plunged into the Hudson River near Hoboken, shortly after the pilot radioed that they were low on fuel and returning to base. Tragically, they never made it back.
Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter break apart mid-air, with the tail and rotor detaching before it slammed into the river. “It sounded like a sonic boom,” one bystander said. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”
The victims were identified as Siemens executive Agustín Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, also a Siemens manager, and their three young children—ages 11, 5, and 4. They had just arrived in New York to celebrate a birthday.
The Bell 206 helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter and owned by Louisiana-based Meridian Helicopters, was part of a sightseeing tour. The company’s CEO, Michael Roth, expressed deep sorrow, saying, “We’re devastated.”
Since 1977, at least 32 people have died in helicopter crashes in New York. Siemens released a statement mourning the tragic loss, calling it “deeply saddening.”
What was meant to be a joyful family trip ended in unimaginable tragedy.