Helicopter pilot who crashed into Hudson River relayed one final message before fatal impact

On Thursday, a helicopter carrying a family of five crashed into the Hudson River as witnesses recalled hearing a “sonic boom” before seeing the vehicle split in two and plummet into the water. It was only in the air for 15 minutes at around 1,000ft before footage captured the moment the propeller fell into the Hudson River.

Officials were alerted to the situation at around 3.15 pm, and by 5.15 pm, rescue efforts were concluded as four passengers were pronounced dead at the scene and two more later in the hospital from the injuries they sustained in the crash.

“It sounded like a sonic boom. I look up, and literally I just see a helicopter splitting in two with the rotor flying off in the sky,” one onlooker told WABC. “It was going so fast, it just went straight into the water. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”

🚨 #BREAKING: Eye witness recounts how helicopter "split in 2, with the rotor flying off in the sky" into the Hudson River in NYC.

"It sounded like a sonic boom.. I saw helicopter splitting in 2, with the rotor flying off in the sky… it just went straight into the water.” pic.twitter.com/01SqxgE2Ck

— Breaking News Alerter (@BreakingAlerter) April 10, 2025

The helicopter carried Agustín Escobar, president of Siemens’ Spanish branch, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three kids ages 4, 5 and 11. All were killed in the crash along with a currently unidentified pilot.

Though we are yet to learn more details about the pilot, the CEO of the helicopter company, New York Helicopter Tours, has spoken out about the pilot desperately needing to refuel.

“He called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive,” Michael Roth told The Telegraph. “We’re all devastated. Every employee in our company is devastated. My wife has not stopped crying. The death of the child of any human being, is a monumental disaster.”

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People are obviously questioning how the tragic event even happened, and while it is being investigated, Michael Roth noted how sometimes machines just break.

“The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter. And I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years being in business, in the helicopter business,” he said.

BREAKING: At least three people are deceased after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, according to ABC 7.

Five people were reportedly onboard.

According to local officials, the passengers were a "mix of children and adults."

One witness says they saw the helicopter… pic.twitter.com/UlYNoSTbnk

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 10, 2025

“I have no clue. I don’t know. This is horrific. But you gotta remember something, these are machines and they break.”

Donald Trump has spoken out about the Hudson River helicopter crash

Officials and New York City representatives were shocked by the news, with New York City mayor Eric Adams saying, “Our hearts go out to the families of those who were onboard. All six have been removed from the water, and sadly all six victims have been pronounced deceased.”

Donald Trump also shared condolences for those affected, writing on his Truth Social: “Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. Looks like six people, the pilot, two adults, and three children, are no longer with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims.”

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Featured image credit: SARAH YENESEL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock