A new theory has emerged about what caused the helicopter crash which killed a Siemens executive, his wife and their three young children in New York’s Hudson River.
Agustin Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal and their three children had arrived from Barcelona on Wednesday for a sightseeing trip in New York before the tragedy unfolded.
Video footage shows the Bell 206 helicopter upside down in the water near Holland Tunnel around 3.17 pm, and footage shows the helicopter ‘falling apart’ in midair, with the tail and propeller coming off.
A former military aviator has now said the main rotor on the helicopter could have struck the central part of the helicopter, cutting off the tail and sparking the deadly event.
”The two main causes of this phenomenon are mechanical failure or excessive manoeuvring. Still, a full investigation is needed to understand why this tragedy occurred,’ Jim Brauchle told the Mail.
‘Having previously represented the families of tourists killed during a helicopter tour over the Hudson River, my heart goes out to the families at this catastrophic time.’
Rescue efforts were based at Pier 40, the New York Fire Department told Metro.
Dani Horbiak was at her home in Jersey City, New Jersey when she heard what sounded like ‘several gunshots in a row, almost, in the air.’
She looked out her window and saw the chopper ‘splash in several pieces into the river.’
The flight, which took the aircraft north along the Manhattan skyline and then back south toward the Statue of Liberty, lasted less than 18 minutes.
By the time it crashed while heading south, it had no rotor or propellers, with eyewitnesses claiming to have seen it disintegrate as it came down.
What caused it to break apart mid-air is not clear. Wind speeds were around 9mph and the temperature was 10°C.
The aircraft’s landing skids are still visible sticking out of the water. One clip shows a propeller spinning when it landed. Other parts of the helicopter landed nearby.
‘Six innocent souls have lost their lives, and we pray for them and their families,’ Governor Kathy Hochul of New York said.
It is not yet clear what caused the crash. The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have said they will investigate.
The helicopter appears to have crashed closer to the New Jersey side of the river, across from the West Village in Manhattan.
The helicopter was a Bell 206 operated by New York Helicopter, a local excursion company that runs sightseeing tours.
Police said: ‘Due to a helicopter crash in the Hudson River, in the vicinity of the West Side Highway and Spring Street, expect emergency vehicles and traffic delays in the surrounding areas.’
At least 32 people have died in helicopter incidents in New York since 1977.
Siemens said in a statement: ‘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.’
Donald Trump issued a statement on his platform Truth Social reading: ‘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!’
Before today, the latest was in 2019 when a helicopter used for executive travel crashed into a Manhattan skyscraper in restricted airspace, killing the pilot.
Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopters, which operated the flight, said: ‘I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated. I’m absolutely devastated.
‘I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years being in […] the helicopter business. This is horrific. But you have to remember something: these are machines, and they break.’
