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Investigation Underway into Fatal Helicopter Crash in Hudson River
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced at a press briefing on Friday that it is thoroughly investigating the tragic helicopter crash that occurred in the Hudson River on Thursday. NTSB officials stated that no potential cause is being ruled out, particularly after reports of a large flock of birds in the vicinity prior to the incident.
A Bell 206 helicopter, operated by New York Helicopters, went down at approximately 3:17 p.m. near the Jersey City shoreline. The information was confirmed by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
First responders, including divers from the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and the NYPD, acted swiftly to recover the victims from the river. Tragically, all six individuals onboard, including the pilot and a family of five visiting from Spain, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The deceased family members include Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children, who were all younger than 11 years old. They had traveled to the U.S. for a work-related visit and were celebrating Montal’s 40th birthday, as noted by Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.
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While the pilot’s identity remains undisclosed, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy revealed that the agency has access to the pilot’s logbooks, which confirm that he held a commercial pilot certificate along with rotorcraft and instrument ratings. According to Homendy, the pilot had reported having 450 hours of flight experience during his last medical examination on September 20, 2024, and approximately 788 flight hours had been logged by March 29, 2025.
Investigators are also in the process of assessing the pilot’s flight time specifically in the Bell 206, as he had previously flown a Robinson 44 helicopter. Meanwhile, NYPD divers continue to search the water for fragments of the aircraft, including critical parts such as the main rotor and tail structure.
Witness accounts have significantly contributed to the preliminary investigation, with Homendy indicating that the NTSB is looking into the aforementioned reports of birds in the area prior to the crash. “We discussed it this morning,” she stated, reinforcing the importance of analyzing all available information.
The flight embarked from the downtown Manhattan heliport around 2:59 p.m. that day, heading southward before turning north along the Manhattan waterfront, reaching the George Washington Bridge about nine minutes later. Shortly after changing flight direction again toward New Jersey, control was lost, leading to the helicopter’s descent just off Hoboken’s shore.
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CEO of New York Helicopter Tours, Michael Roth, stated that the pilot had radioed in needing fuel before the helicopter went down. The timeline surrounding this communication is still under investigation.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said that at the time of the crash, the helicopter was operating in a special flight rules area where air traffic control services were not available, although support had been provided by LaGuardia Airport prior to entering this no-control zone.
During the press conference, Homendy addressed concerns regarding air tour safety. She emphasized that the NTSB has previously issued recommendations for enhanced safety measures, particularly in light of past incidents involving tour helicopters. Representative Nicole Malliotakis and local officials shared their worries about safety and regulation surrounding low-flying tour helicopters in residential areas.
Homendy commented that it is too early to define the outcomes of the ongoing investigation but highlighted that community concerns regarding helicopter safety have been long-standing. She mentioned specific recommendations made after a previous tragedy involving a different tour helicopter in 2018, which had raised significant issues regarding passenger safety.
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The NTSB and FAA are committed to investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragic accident, with Mayor Fulop confirming that family members of the victims are being assisted in returning to Spain. The community remains in mourning as the investigation unfolds, seeking answers to prevent future tragedies.
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