A vacationer helicopter carrying a household of 5 from Spain and an American pilot plunged into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon. The crash resulted within the tragic deaths of all six individuals on board. Occurring simply after 3:15 PM native time close to Decrease Manhattan, the accident has despatched shockwaves by New York Metropolis and Spain as particulars proceed to emerge about what precipitated the Bell 206 helicopter to all of a sudden fall from the sky.
The Helicopter Crash Victims And What Occurred
Amongst these killed have been Agustin Escobar, an govt from European automation firm Siemens, his spouse Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three kids, aged 4, 5, and 11. The 36-year-old pilot additionally perished within the crash. In response to Spanish officers, who confirmed their identities, the household had been visiting from Barcelona, Spain.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his grief on social media, calling the information “devastating” and describing it as “an unimaginable tragedy” for the nation.
The helicopter departed from the Wall Road Heliport at roughly 3:00 PM. Simply over quarter-hour into its journey, after reaching the George Washington Bridge and turning south, the plane skilled a catastrophic failure. Video footage of the incident exhibits the helicopter plunging into the river with out its tail rotor or primary rotor blade.
A number of witnesses reported listening to loud noises moments earlier than the crash. Dani Horbiak instructed ABC Information she heard “5 or 6 loud noises that sounded virtually like gunshots within the sky and noticed items fall off, then watched it fall into the river.” One other witness described the sound to New York ABC station WABC as “a sonic growth” and noticed the “helicopter splitting in two with the rotor flying off.”
Rescue Efforts
The helicopter crashed at 3:17 PM off the coast of River Drive in Hoboken, New Jersey. When rescuers arrived on the scene, they discovered the plane upside-down within the 50-degree water. Regardless of the fast response from emergency providers, all six occupants have been pronounced useless after being transported to Jersey Metropolis Medical Middle.
“Our hearts exit to the household and people on board,” New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams mentioned throughout a press briefing following the incident.
The Nationwide Transportation Security Board has launched an investigation into the reason for the crash. The Jersey Metropolis Police Division is taking the lead on the investigation for the reason that helicopter crashed on the Jersey Metropolis facet of the river. Jersey Metropolis Mayor Steven Fulop famous that the town has beforehand expressed considerations about air site visitors over the Hudson River. He hopes this tragic incident will convey extra consideration to their ongoing security considerations about helicopter excursions within the space.
The plane, recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Bell 206 helicopter operated by New York Helicopters, was reportedly on its sixth flight of the day when the crash occurred.
