Tourist helicopter crash kills six in NYC

Bystander video captured the moment parts of the aircraft splashed into the river. The New York Helicopters tour aircraft departed before losing control and hitting the water upside down near Lower Manhattan.

A tourist helicopter crashed into New York's Hudson River, killing all six people aboard, including three children, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The victims are believed to have included a family from Spain and the pilot.

"All six victims have been removed from the water and sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased," Adams said during a press briefing.

The Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV helicopter reportedly suffered an in-flight breakup before plunging into the river near Pier 40 in Manhattan. Eyewitnesses described seeing the helicopter disintegrate mid-air, with the tail boom and rotor blades detaching before the aircraft crashed upside-down.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that emergency divers from both NYPD and FDNY responded to the scene. "NYPD divers pulled four people from the crash site, and FDNY divers recovered an additional two," she said. Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were transported to local hospitals where they later died from their injuries.

The victims have been identified as Agustín Escobar, CEO of Siemens España, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11. The family was visiting from Barcelona and taking a sightseeing tour over Manhattan. The 36-year-old pilot also perished.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations, with the NTSB leading the effort. Preliminary reports suggest a mechanical failure, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

This accident marks the deadliest helicopter crash in New York City since 2018.