Shocking radio call before NYC helicopter crash exposed.
A routine sightseeing trip over New York City took a harrowing turn that ended in unspeakable tragedy.
NYC helicopter crash profiled.
The aircraft went down around 3:15 p.m., off the New Jersey side of the Hudson River near the tip of Manhattan.
The Bell 206L-4 helicopter lifted off from the Wall Street Heliport at 3 p.m. It didn’t make it past 17 minutes in the air.
Calls to 911 began at 3:17 p.m., as the aircraft sank in the Hudson’s icy waters—barely above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Flight data shows the helicopter circled Lady Liberty before veering north along the Hudson—never to return.
Conditions at the time included winds up to 25 mph, cloudy skies, and light rain moving into the area.
This marks the deadliest helicopter crash in the city since 2018, when five drowned after a chopper crash in the East River.
Witness accounts of incident highlighted.
Roth confirmed to The Telegraph: “It should have taken three minutes to reach the helipad. Instead, it vanished.”
“I heard a loud snap,” one witness told ABC. “Then the thing just fell sideways into the water like something out of a movie.”
“It sounded like a sonic boom,” said another bystander. “My kids thought it was an earthquake or that a building collapsed.”
“We’re all devastated,” Roth said. “My wife hasn’t stopped crying. The death of a child is a monumental disaster.”
“I saw the lights and police from across the river,” said one woman. “It was surreal—everyone was frozen.”
Footage reportedly shows the aircraft wobbling in midair, parts detaching before it slammed into the water.
Victims of helicopter crash identified.
Among the victims was Agustín Escobar, CEO of Siemens Spain, his wife, and three children—killed within minutes of what should have been a routine aerial tour.
Escobar had helmed Siemens Spain since 2022, with decades in energy and transportation under his belt.
He also served as VP of the German Chamber of Commerce for Spain, with roots in the company stretching back to 1998.
Known for his leadership in the European tech industry, Escobar was a father of three and married to fellow engineer Maria Fernández.
Sources say the family had been sightseeing, likely celebrating spring break, before boarding their fatal tour.
They’d only arrived in the U.S. days prior. Escobar was scheduled to attend an industry event the following week.
Chilling images show Escobar and his family posing near the aircraft—seconds before liftoff, smiles still frozen in time.
Authorities have yet to formally name the pilot, who was among the six killed when the chopper struck the river.
Details of probe unveiled.
New York Helicopter now faces intense questioning as federal investigators arrive to examine potential safety violations.
Jersey City PD initially led the scene, but the NTSB will determine the final cause of the crash.
Tour flights are a common sight over the Hudson, but critics have long warned of safety risks and airspace overcrowding.
“All six have been recovered from the water,” Adams said. “Our hearts go out to the families.”
The Spanish Consulate is now involved, contacting family and liaising with U.S. officials.
Since 1977, at least 32 people have died in helicopter crashes in the city. The industry remains under scrutiny.
In that crash, a safety harness prevented passengers from escaping before the chopper sank.
Eerie radio call revealed.
The pilot of the doomed helicopter made a desperate radio call moments before plunging into the Hudson River, saying they were dangerously low on fuel.
“He called in that he was landing and needed fuel,” said Michael Roth, owner of New York Helicopter. “Three minutes turned into twenty—and then he never showed.”
Focus shifts to recovery.
Authorities are now working to retrieve helicopter parts from the murky Hudson.
The most chilling part? The pilot knew something was wrong. He radioed for fuel—and was never heard from again.