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A horrific tragedy unfolded in New York when a helicopter carrying five Spanish nationals plummeted into the Hudson River. The victims were a married couple and their three children—had been vacationing in the Big Apple and booked a scenic flight over Manhattan with the tourism company New York Helicopter Tours. The helicopter’s pilot also lost his life in the accident.
The deceased include Agustín Escobar, former president of Siemens in Spain and current Global CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility (based in Berlin, Germany); his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, who served as Global Commercialization Director at Siemens Energy; and their three children, ages 11, 5, and 4. It appears that one of the children was celebrating a birthday.
© New York Helicopter ToursThe family was well-known in Barcelona, where they resided. Merce was the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of two former presidents of FC Barcelona: Agustí Montal Galobart, who led the club from 1946 to 1952, and Agustí Montal Costa, whose tenure from 1969 to 1977 was marked by the arrival of Johan Cruyff. Merce was also the sister of Joan Camprubi Montal, a member of a group opposed to current Barça president Joan Laporta.
© New York Helicopter ToursWhat happened in the air?
Authorities are still investigating the circumstances behind the accident. According to the Flight Radar tracking data, the helicopter had been in the air for 15 minutes and had covered 6 kilometers at the time of the crash. It departed from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, headed south, then flew north up to the George Washington Bridge, and turned south again along the New Jersey coastline before losing control near Hoboken.
Emergency divers from the New York Fire Department, the NYPD, and nearby New Jersey swiftly responded, recovering the victims from the river. According to NYPD Chief Jessica Tisch, divers pulled out four bodies and two surviving passengers, who later passed away at the hospital.
© Getty ImagesImages circulating in various media outlets indicate that the helicopter lost its rotor blades mid-air before plunging into the river. Once in the Hudson, it flipped upside-down, leaving the underside floating while the cabin became submerged. The accident occurred on a day when temperatures ranged between approximately 32 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
Just minutes before the tragedy, Agustín and Merce posed happily with their children for photos taken by New York Helicopter Tours. Nothing hinted that only moments later, as they gazed upon New York City from above, they would all lose their lives. Company CEO Michael Roth stated: “I don’t know anything how this went down. The only thing I can tell you, we are devastated. My wife hasn’t stopped crying since this afternoon.”
© Getty ImagesReactions regarding the helicopter tragedy
New York Mayor Eric Adams expressed his sorrow and confirmed that three adults and three children were killed in the helicopter accident and NY rescue teams arrived with in minutes. “Our hearts go out to the family of those who were on board and all six who were on board of the helicopter,” Adams said.
U.S. President Donald Trump also commented: “Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. Looks like six people, the pilot, two adults, and three children, are no longer with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his talented staff are on it. Announcements as to exactly what took place, and how, will be made shortly!”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who learned of the news while in Beijing, called the family’s death an “inimaginable tragedy.” He noted, “The news we have received today about the helicopter crash in the Hudson River is devastating. Five Spaniards from the same family—three of them children—and the pilot have lost their lives. I share in the grief of the victims’ loved ones at this heartbreaking moment.”
Emiliano García-Page Sánchez, president of Castilla-La Mancha, expressed profound sorrow over the loss of Agustín Escobar, who was originally from Puertollano, Ciudad Real. “I want to express my sorrow upon learning of the tragic helicopter crash in New York in which Agustín Escobar and his family have died. Agustín was originally from Puertollano, and in 2023 we named him an honorary son of Castilla-La Mancha. My thoughts are with his loved ones during these difficult times,” he said.
Salvador Illa also extended his condolences. “I am dismayed by the tragic helicopter crash in the Hudson River in New York, in which six people have lost their lives, five of them members of a family from Barcelona,” he stated. “All my sympathy goes out to their relatives and friends. We stand ready to help them with anything they may need.”
