A tragic sightseeing tour turned deadly when a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing a Spanish family of five and their pilot.
Experts suspect rotor blade separation as the cause of the catastrophic failure.
A Birthday tour turns tragic in the Hudson river helicopter crash
Just minutes before a fatal helicopter crash over the Hudson River, a heart-wrenching photo captured an eight-year-old girl smiling from the cockpit.
She was excited for a birthday adventure over New York City’s skyline.
The young girl, who had traveled from Barcelona with her family, was celebrating what would have been her ninth birthday on the day after the accident.
She was joined by her parents—Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive, and Merce Camprubi Montal—along with her 10-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister.
All five were killed in the sightseeing helicopter crash, along with their 36-year-old pilot.
Family’s New York vacation was meant to celebrate two birthdays
The family of five had arrived from Spain for a vacation in New York.
They planned to tour the city to celebrate the daughter’s birthday and, reportedly, Merce’s 40th birthday
Their first day included a scenic helicopter ride that took them around the Statue of Liberty and toward the George Washington Bridge.
“The family flew out to extend the trip a couple days in NYC. They were celebrating the mom’s 40th birthday with the tourist helicopter flight,” said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.
The family boarded the helicopter at the Wall Street Heliport, and within 16 minutes, their aircraft crashed into the Hudson River around 3:15 p.m., near Pier 40.
Experts point to rotor blade failure as the likely cause of the crash
Footage shows a rotor blade falling, leading experts to believe the main blades detached mid-flight and struck the tail—instantly fatal.
“From the footage, it appears that the main rotor struck the body of the helicopter, cutting off the tail of the helicopter, which created an unrecoverable event,” said Jim Brauchle, former military aviator and aviation attorney.
According to Brauchle, this kind of mechanical failure can stem from either excessive maneuvering or critical mechanical breakdown.
He noted that a full investigation is essential to determine the exact cause.
Another aviation analyst, Tristani, echoed this, stating:
“If the rotor assembly separated from the aircraft, the aircraft was doomed. No pilot could have recovered from that. When you throw a blade—or the entire head—you’re just a falling brick.”
Pilot reported low fuel just before the crash, raising additional questions
Moments before the crash, the pilot radioed a fuel warning, saying he was planning to land soon to refuel.
“He called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel. It should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive,” said Michael Roth, 71, the owner of New York Helicopter, which operated the flight.
Roth, visibly shaken, told the New York Post that the aircraft appeared to be missing its rotor blades as it descended.
“I’ve never seen anything like that in 30 years in the helicopter business… It could have been a bird strike or a rotor blade failure. I just don’t know.”
Justin Green, former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, said the crash was caused by what he called a “catastrophic mechanical failure”.
“They were dead as soon as whatever happened happened,” Green said. “There’s no indication they had any control over the craft. No pilot could have prevented that accident once they lost the lift. It’s like a rock falling to the ground. It’s heartbreaking.”
Investigators believe the main rotor blades may have struck the tail boom, breaking the structure and leaving the aircraft in a freefall.
Emergency responders confirmed that four passengers died at the scene, while two others succumbed to injuries at the hospital.