A sightseeing helicopter crash into the Hudson River in New York resulted in six fatalities, which included a high-ranking Siemens official and his relatives.
On Thursday, the plane crashed, resulting in fatalities for everyone aboard, including the pilot and the family of Agustin Escobar, who was the head of a division at international technology company Siemens.
Two of the injured parties were first admitted to a medical facility, but they ultimately passed away due to their wounds.
"Deeply saddened by the heartbreaking helicopter accident where Agustin Escobar and his loved ones tragically passed away," Siemens stated. AFP on Friday.
Mayor Eric Adams informed a press conference earlier that all six victims—including three children—have been retrieved from the water following what he described as a "devastating and tragic accident."
The helicopter's landing gear was visible sticking out of the river next to a tunnel outlet, with multiple boats gathered at the crash location.
Law enforcement officers from both New York and New Jersey, located across the river from Manhattan, joined forces at the location alongside firefighting units.
The NBC4 The channel stated that their helicopter couldn't depart due to the weather, which was characterized by strong winds and dense clouds over New York on Thursday.
A witness told AFP It seemed as though the helicopter's rotor blade "disintegrated in mid-air."
"After it broke apart, we saw the helicopter start spinning... And then it simply plunged into the water," stated fashion designer Belle Angel.
The Federal Aviation Administration stated in an official release that it was a Bell 206 helicopter.
"The FAA along with the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation," it stated.
President Donald Trump used social media to describe the incident as "terrible."
"The video of the incident is horrifying. My thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected," he posted on Truth Social.
'Heartbreaking'
The river serves as a bustling shipping route and was also the setting for a remarkable event in 2009 when a US Airways plane made a safe emergency landing in the water. Everyone aboard—the total count being 155 individuals—survived this incident which came to be known as the "Miracle on the Hudson."
At certain points, the river reaches depths of up to 200 feet (60 meters), and it AFP The correspondent observed what seemed to be flotation devices attached to the helicopter's landing gear.
According to the US Geological Survey, the typical temperature of the river at this time of year is 46°F (8°C).
"Six people, including three adults and three children, were aboard a Bell 206 helicopter that departed from the downtown Skyport around 3 PM," stated Adams, adding that the visitors were a family from Spain.
He stated that police officers and FDNY divers hurriedly worked together to rescue those who had survived from the debris.
"Four individuals were rescued from the accident location by NYPD divers, with six more being retrieved by FDNY divers. Emergency life-saving procedures were promptly initiated both on the boats at the incident site and the adjacent dock," stated Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Four individuals were declared deceased at the location, and another two were transported to nearby hospitals, where they unfortunately passed away due to their injuries.
Around 3 p.m., the helicopter lifted off, initially traveling south along the Manhattan coastline toward the George Washington Bridge. It then reversed direction, moving back toward the lower Manhattan heliport where it lost control and crashed into the water close to a pier in Hoboken, according to Tisch.
The police commissioner stated that the helicopter in question was managed by New York Helicopter, an entity that has not commented despite being listed as owning a Bell 206 model within their fleet.
Approximately 30 helicopter accidents have occurred in New York since 1980, according to Brooklyn Borough President Mark Levine, who spoke to journalists about the need for stricter regulations on helicopter movements within the city.