Rescue teams were seen working at the site where a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near lower Manhattan, New York, on April 10, 2025. The scene was visible from Newport, New Jersey, as crews responded to the tragic incident. REUTERS
A sightseeing trip over Manhattan turned into a heartbreaking disaster on Thursday. A helicopter carrying a family visiting from Spain crashed into the Hudson River near the New Jersey shoreline. The accident killed five people, including two children, and the pilot.
The flight started like any regular tour. The helicopter took off from downtown Manhattan at 2:59 p.m. It followed a popular sightseeing path along the Manhattan shoreline. It flew past the Statue of Liberty and moved up the Hudson River. At 3:08 p.m., it reached the George Washington Bridge. Then, it turned back south, following the New Jersey side.
Witnesses saw the helicopter drop suddenly. It flipped upside down and crashed into the river near Pier A Park in Hoboken. Debris flew into the water as people watched in shock. Emergency services quickly arrived. First responders pulled six people from the river. Sadly, four people were already dead. Two others were rushed to hospitals but later died.
The victims included Agustín Escobar, an executive from Siemens, along with his family. New York’s mayor confirmed that the family was visiting from Spain. The crash left many shaken. “Our hearts go out to the family of those who were on board,” said the mayor.
Former President Donald Trump also expressed sympathy, saying “God bless the families and friends of the victims.” He added that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was looking into the crash.
The helicopter belonged to a tour company based in New York. The company’s CEO, Michael Roth, shared his sorrow. “We are devastated,” he said. “My wife hasn’t stopped crying since this afternoon.” When asked about the helicopter’s maintenance, he said his maintenance director handles those matters. That director gave no comments.
Officials are now trying to understand why the crash happened. The helicopter was a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV. It was built in 2004 and last received its airworthiness certificate in 2016, valid through 2029. According to flight data, it flew for about 16 minutes before going down.
At the time of the crash, skies were cloudy, and winds were gusting up to 25 mph. Visibility at ground level was clear, with up to 10 miles of visibility. Light rain was expected later in the day.
After the crash, other helicopters in the air were told to keep watch for anyone still in the water. Air traffic control also warned drone operators to stay away from the crash site unless they had special approval.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating. The NTSB sent a team to the scene to review all flight and maintenance records. They will check if the helicopter had followed recent safety rules.
In 2023, the FAA ordered checks for tail rotor drive shafts on some Bell 206L helicopters, including the model that crashed. A previous accident caused that order. Another rule from 2022 required inspections of rotor blades due to risks of layer separation, which could cause blade failure.
Investigators will review if the crashed helicopter had followed these rules. For now, questions remain, and families mourn the loss of loved ones in what should have been a joyful day.
