🚁 Tragedy Over the Hudson: Spanish Family and Pilot Killed in NYC Helicopter Crash
🚁 Tragedy Over the Hudson: Spanish Family and Pilot Killed in NYC Helicopter Crash
On April 10, 2025, a sightseeing helicopter operated by New York Helicopter Tours tragically crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey, claiming the lives of all six individuals on board.
🕯️ Victims Identified
The victims included Agustín Escobar, CEO of Siemens Mobility Southwest Europe, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 8, and 11. The family was visiting New York from Barcelona to celebrate one of the children's birthdays. The pilot, Sean Johnson, a 36-year-old U.S. Navy SEAL veteran, also perished in the crash.
🔍 Investigation Underway
The Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV helicopter departed from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at approximately 2:59 p.m. EDT. Around 3:17 p.m., the aircraft experienced an in-flight breakup, with witnesses reporting the rotor blades separating mid-air before the helicopter plunged into the river. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, focusing on a critical component known as the "Jesus nut," which connects the main rotor to the mast. Failure of this component is suspected to have caused the rotor to detach.
Notably, the helicopter lacked flight data and cockpit voice recorders, complicating the investigation. The aircraft had completed its eighth flight of the day and had undergone its last major inspection on March 1, 2025.
🌐 Broader Implications
This tragedy has reignited concerns over the safety of sightseeing helicopter tours in densely populated areas. Lawmakers and safety advocates are calling for stricter regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
➡️ Read more on our main blog: ClickWorldDaily
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