What we know about the Hudson River helicopter crash in N.Y. that killed 6
Here's what we know about the crash so far.
Siemens executive Agustín Escobar and his family were on board
Agustín Escobar; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal; and their three children were on board the tour helicopter, according to a statement from Siemens, where the couple worked.
Escobar, 49, was global chief executive of rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility and had been the CEO at Siemens Spain. Camprubí Montal was global commercialization manager, a spokesperson for the company said.
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'We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar and his family lost their lives. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all their loved ones,' the company said in a statement.
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the crash 'an unimaginable tragedy.'
'I share in the pain of the victims' loved ones during this gut-wrenching moment,' Sánchez posted on X.
The name of the sixth person aboard, the pilot, has not yet been released.
The cause of the crash is still unknown
The National Transportation Safety Board and local agencies are investigating Thursday's deadly incident.
Eyewitness footage of the crash showed the helicopter cabin without rotor blades flipping upside down as it hurtled into the river with a loud thud. Pictures from the scene after the impact showed the aircraft upside down in the water, partially submerged as first responders worked around the wreck.
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The helicopter was on a sightseeing tour
The group had taken off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at 2:59 p.m. aboard a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV operated by a tour company called New York Helicopters, city officials said.
The helicopter reached the George Washington Bridge about 3:08 p.m. before turning back south along the New Jersey shoreline, officials said, citing online flight data. Minutes later, it lost control and crashed into the water near Hoboken, New Jersey, just feet from the edge of Pier A Park, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
'The helicopter hit the water, we believe, inverted, and the cabin piece was visible above the water,' Tisch said.
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