The fatal crash happened shortly after the helicopter took off from downtown N.Y.C. on April 10
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The family of five killed in a helicopter crash in the Hudson River outside New York City this week had been celebrating before the tragedy, officials said.
Agustin Escobar, the president of the Spanish branch of the technology company Siemens, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, ages 4, 5, and 11, were confirmed to be the victims of the crash.
The tragedy occurred on the New Jersey side of the Hudson around 3:15 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 10.
The pilot, who was also killed, has not yet been identified.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, though witnesses said they saw the chopper — operated by a touring company — “falling apart” in midair and the pilot had reportedly warned he needed fuel before crashing.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and friend, Agustin Escobar, and his beloved family,” Siemens CEO Roland Busch wrote on X. “Agustin was the CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Agustin’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. We will miss him and his family immensely.”
The family traveled from Barcelona, Spain, for a vacation to celebrate one of their young children’s birthdays when the crash occurred, local news outlet El Diario reported.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that the middle child was set to turn 8 the following day.
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The mayor of Jersey City, N.J., Steven Fulop, wrote on X that Escobar was in the U.S. on business and his “family flew out to extend the trip a couple days in NYC.”
“They were celebrating the mom’s 40th bday with the tourist helicopter flight yesterday,” Fulop wrote on Friday, April 11.
He added that officials were “working … to expedite release of the family to fly back to Spain” and that relatives were en route to the U.S.
“Our hearts go out to the family and all six who were on board the helicopter,” Adams told reporters on Thursday.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating alongside the National Transportation Safety Board, said the aircraft was a Bell 206 helicopter.
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The aircraft was flying for tour company New York Helicopters, authorities have said.
It “lost control and hit the water just a few feet off the coast of Pier A Park in Hoboken,” New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters.
New York Helicopter Tours CEO Michael Roth said he was “devastated” following the incident, according to the New York Post.
