Siemens executive, wife, and 3 young children identified as victims in deadly New York helicopter crash
A family vacation to New York ended in heartbreak on Thursday after a tourist helicopter plunged into the Hudson River, killing all six people on board — including a top Siemens executive, his wife, and their three young children.
Agustín Escobar, a senior executive overseeing Siemens’ operations in Spain and Southwest Europe, was confirmed dead alongside his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their children aged 4, 5, and 11. The pilot of the flight, operated by New York Helicopters, also died in the crash.
According to Spanish officials, the family had traveled from Barcelona, Spain, to visit the U.S..
Eyewitnesses and emergency responders described a horrifying scene as the Bell 206 helicopter, on its sixth flight of the day, crashed into the chilly Hudson River at around 3:17 p.m., just over 15 minutes after takeoff from the Wall Street Heliport.
Rescuers found the aircraft upside-down in the 50-degree water off the Hoboken, New Jersey, coast. Despite quick emergency response, there were no survivors.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams extended his condolences during a press briefing, saying, “Our hearts go out to the family and those on board.”
Escobar had been appointed head of Siemens’ Spanish division in 2022, and his leadership in the mobility and transport sector was hailed as vital to the company’s progress. Miguel Ángel López, former Siemens Spain chairman, praised Escobar as “the best possible successor.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the deadly crash, as authorities work to uncover what led to the tragic accident.
The pilot’s identity has not yet been released.
The crash has drawn global sympathy and reignited discussions about the safety of tourist helicopter rides, especially in busy urban airspaces like New York City.
