Pilot Reported Fuel Issue Before Fatal Hudson River Helicopter Crash That Killed Family of Five

New York City was rocked by tragedy on April 10, 2025, when a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City, killing all six people onboard. According to Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter Tours, the pilot had radioed in shortly before the crash to report he needed fuel and was preparing to land. “It should have taken him three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t,” Roth told The Telegraph.

The victims included Siemens executive Agustín Escobar, his partner Mercè Camprubí Montal, a global manager at an energy firm, and their three children. The pilot’s identity has not yet been released. Photos on the company’s website showed the family smiling inside the aircraft just moments before takeoff from Lower Manhattan.

Eyewitness videos captured the rotor detaching midair, sending the aircraft spiraling before it crashed into the river around 3:17 p.m. Authorities, including FDNY and NYPD divers, responded within minutes. Despite efforts to revive the victims, four were pronounced dead at the scene, while two more died at local hospitals.

Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the family had been visiting from Spain. “They came to experience New York from the sky. It’s heartbreaking,” he said. The water temperature was in the mid-40s, making survival even less likely. The Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers have since recovered the wreckage and are aiding the NTSB in the ongoing investigation.

Roth speculated the crash could have involved a bird strike or a mechanical failure, though he emphasized he didn’t know for sure. “In 30 years in the helicopter business, I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. The accident occurred just a mile from Manhattan and near the Holland Tunnel, prompting a temporary safety zone in the area.

This was the first fatal helicopter crash in New York City since 2019, when another aircraft hit a skyscraper rooftop. “Our hearts go out to the families,” said Adams. “This tragedy reminds us how fragile life is, especially during what was meant to be a joyful visit.”