Aviation accident in New York Pilot reports lack of fuel, then the helicopter breaks apart

In New York, a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River during a tourist sightseeing flight. All the passengers - a Spanish Siemens manager and his family - and the pilot were killed.

Keystone-SDA

11.04.2025, 04:24

11.04.2025, 15:51

SDA

There is great consternation about the helicopter crash in New York and it is also unclear what caused the accident.

The videos circulating show that the helicopter broke apart in mid-air. The main rotor blades fall separately from the rest of the aircraft into the Hudson River - as does the passenger cabin, which crashes without a tail boom. The helicopter broke apart completely in the air.

The CEO of the helicopter tour operator told the New York Post:"The only thing I know from the video of the helicopter that crashed is that the main rotor blades were not on the helicopter." He had never seen anything like it in 30 years of working in the helicopter industry. The misfortune of this family and the pilot is close to his heart, he emphasized to media representatives in New York.

He mentions bird strike or that the main rotor blades failed as possible causes, but then qualifies: "I have no idea, I don't know." He is only sure of one thing: "It's a machine, and machines can break down."

Another clue is the pilot's last radio message. He reported that he needed fuel and was therefore returning to base, as the Daily Mail writes. This would have taken about three minutes from where he was at the time. When he had not arrived after twenty minutes, the tour operator's staff had started the search. By then, however, the helicopter had already crashed into the Hudson River.

Helicopter tour operator already had flight incidents

The tour operator New York Helicopters has already had several incidents during tourist flights in the past, as reported by the New York Times. For example, one of its helicopters had to make a hard emergency landing in 2013 because the aircraft had lost thrust.

Around two years later, another of the company's helicopters made an emergency landing because it had gone out of control. The investigation into the incident showed that the aircraft had had to make a hard landing in Chile in 2010. This was due to a drive shaft that was not airworthy.

The company that owned the helicopter that almost crashed in 2010 and 2015 - Meridian Helicopters - and the Bell 206 model are identical to the aircraft that crashed in New York. It is currently unclear whether it is the same helicopter.

Family from Spain and pilot are dead

Three children and three adults were killed in the helicopter crash in the metropolis of New York. The pilot was also among the dead, and the other victims were a family, announced Mayor Eric Adams. According to the US aviation safety authority, investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing.

According to the authorities, the victims are Siemens manager Agustín Escobar, his wife and three children, reported the New York Times and other US media. Escobar was the head of the German company in Spain. The pilot was also killed.

According to preliminary information from Adams, all the passengers had traveled from Spain for a visit and were on a sightseeing flight over the metropolis when the helicopter crashed into the Hudson River off Manhattan for reasons that are still unclear. Emergency services traveled to the scene of the accident in numerous boats, but all help came too late for the guests of the Bell 206 helicopter.

Trump shows dismay

"The footage of the accident is terrible," wrote US President Donald Trump on the Truth Social platform. He announced that more information on the cause and course of the accident would be available shortly.

According to previous findings, the helicopter took off from downtown Manhattan at around 3 p.m. local time, flew around the southern tip of Manhattan and then along the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey. A few minutes later, the pilot apparently lost control of the helicopter, which crashed into the river near the New Jersey shore.

Helicopters are part of everyday life in New York

Helicopters are part of the New York cityscape and can be seen all the time, especially in Manhattan. They usually have tourists on board or take wealthy business people to their next appointment or residence just outside the city. For many New Yorkers, this is not only too loud, but also too dangerous. Accidents have repeatedly sparked debates about safety in the densely populated metropolis with more than eight million inhabitants and hundreds of skyscrapers.

Helicopters are only allowed to fly over the center of Manhattan with special permission. Most pilots take off from the edge of the island and fly over the East River and the Hudson. Not far from the current crash site, a pilot made a spectacular emergency landing of a US Airways passenger plane on the Hudson in 2009 without anyone being injured. The spectacular incident made headlines around the world and was later made into a movie.

Accidents happen again and again

A sightseeing flight over New York is a must for thousands of tourists every year. For some, the few minutes over the unique backdrop of Manhattan - for which they pay hundreds of dollars - become the highlight of their vacation. A number of companies also specialize in flights for business people.

However, many residents are disturbed by the hustle and bustle above the city's rooftops. In 2016, the city council, which profits from the business itself with tens of millions of dollars in revenue, tried to reach a compromise: The original number of 60,000 flights per year was halved.

However, accidents continued to occur. In May 2019, for example, an out-of-control helicopter crashed into the Hudson River. The pilot was able to save himself by jumping into the water. A short time later, a helicopter crashed onto the roof of a high-rise building and burst into flames.