On Thursday, April 10, around 3:15 p.m. Eastern Time, a helicopter on a sightseeing flight plummeted shortly after the pilot, former Navy SEAL Sean Johnson, alerted his team at New York Helicopters about low fuel.
Among the five victims were Siemens executive Agustín Escobar from Barcelona, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three young children—aged 11, five, and four—alongside the pilot. The aircraft reportedly broke apart mid-air before plunging into the Hudson River. There were no survivors.
Following the tragedy, Merce’s brother, Joan Camprubí Montal, traveled to New York City to honor his loved ones. He placed a wreath near the crash location and, during a press conference, emotionally named each family member. Speaking in his native Catalan, he said: “We will never forget you. Your smiles will live on in our hearts, and I believe that’s the most meaningful tribute we can give.”
Michael Roth, the helicopter’s owner, revealed details about the final communication with Johnson. “He radioed saying he was heading back to refuel—it should have taken only about three minutes. But after twenty minutes passed, we heard nothing more,” the 71-year-old told The Telegraph.
A witness, Max, described the horrifying moment to ABC News. “It sounded like a sonic boom,” he recalled. “When I looked up, the helicopter just split in half. The rotor flew off at incredible speed, and the fuselage plunged straight into the river.”
He added: “I thought at first it was just city noise or maybe a jet overhead. But then I saw the rotor spinning away and the rest of the aircraft dive into the water. It all happened so fast—nothing resurfaced. Within minutes, police and emergency crews arrived.”
Authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), are actively investigating the cause of the accident.
