Horror in the Hudson: Terrifying final call made by helicopter pilot before plunging into New York river
11 April 2025, 13:43
The pilot of a helicopter that plunged into the Hudson river killing all six onboard made a terrifying final call to base before the disaster, warning that they did not have enough fuel.
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The victims of the crash have been identified as a family of five, including three young children, from Spain who were tourists visiting the city and taking part in a sightseeing trip at the time of the incident.
The pilot, who has not yet been formally identified, called base minutes before the incident to say that he was landing and needed fuel, the owner of the tour operator New York Helicopter Michael Roth told The Telegraph.
"It should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn't arrive," Roth, 71, said.
Roth started to worry when he received phone messages before one of his other pilots flew over the Hudson and saw the helicopter upside down.
"We're all devastated. Every employee in our company is devastated. My wife has not stopped crying," he said.
It comes as the victims were named by authorities as Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and the couple's three children - with the pilot also perishing in the crash.
The tragic incident occurred in lower Manhattan near the shore, close to Pier 40, across the river from New Jersey, on Thursday afternoon.
All six bodies have now been recovered from the river.
Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, with the other two victims pronounced dead at an area hospital.
New York mayor Eric Adams said the flight began at a downtown heliport around 3pm, and the dead, including three children, had been recovered and removed from the water.
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.
Witness Bruce Wall said he saw the helicopter "falling apart" in midair, with the tail and propeller coming off.
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".
It comes as images emerged of the family aboard the aircraft shortly before the tragedy occurred.
Helicopter crashed in Hudson! The chopper broke off midair and dropped!! pic.twitter.com/KpQGmM8x25
— Avirbhaw(Avi) Rakesh (@AvirbhawRakesh) April 10, 2025
She looked out her window and saw the chopper "splash in several pieces into the river".
he helicopter was spinning uncontrollably with "a bunch of smoke coming out" before it slammed into the water, said Lesly Camacho, a hostess at a restaurant along the river in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Video of the crash showed parts of the chopper tumbling through the air into the water.
Other videos posted to social media following the crash show the aircraft mostly submerged, upside down in the water.
Witnesses say they could see the aircraft was in trouble before it went down - with some saying it broke apart in mid-air.
The New York Fire Department said it received a report of a helicopter in the water at 3.17pm local time.
It confirmed units were on scene and performing rescue operations, it added.
A New York City Police spokesperson said police boats were assisting in the rescue efforts on the Hudson, but details such as how many people were on board were not immediately available.
News video of the crash site showed several emergency and police boats circling around a patch of river where the helicopter was submerged.
The accident took place in the river, close to the city's renowned creative Tribeca neighbourhood.
New York police said residents should expect emergency vehicles and traffic delays in the surrounding areas.
In response to the tragedy, US Senator Cory Booker said: "Heartbroken for the victims of the helicopter crash in the Hudson River... I’m grateful for the swift action by emergency responders."
