Helicopter Crash in NYC's Hudson River Kills 6, Including 3 Children

GUWAHATI: A fatal helicopter crash over New York City's Hudson River on Thursday killed all six occupants, three of them children, in what government officials described as a "heartbreaking and tragic" accident.

The victims, as reported by Reuters, were a Spanish family and the pilot. The helicopter, a Bell 206 owned by New York Helicopter Tours, had departed from a downtown helipad about 3 p.m. before it suddenly crashed into the river off Lower Manhattan.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene, which was visible from across the river in Newport, New Jersey. Despite rapid rescue efforts to save the victims, two of the passengers who were initially rescued alive later died of their injuries at the hospital, AFP cited. New York Mayor Eric Adams affirmed in a press conference that all six victims had already been retrieved from the water and declared dead. "It's a heartbreaking and tragic crash," Adams said gravely, highlighting the emotional impact on the city.

Although officials have not yet made the victims' names public, the New York Post said that among those on board were Agustín Escobar, the president and CEO of Siemens in Spain, his wife, and three of their children. Their vacation trip ended in catastrophe, leaving both locals and foreigners in sorrow. The pilot, whose name has not been officially released, also died in the crash.

Witnesses reported a terrifying sight as the helicopter spun out of control before crashing into the water. New information has come to light indicating a mechanical failure in mid-air, with some reports stating that a rotor blade broke off from the aircraft just before the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigators are examining the flight data and wreckage to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Responding to the disaster, ex-U.S. President Donald Trump posted a message on his social media, describing the accident as "terrible" and sending his sympathies to the families of the victims. "The video of the accident is appalling," he said, stating that the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his department are currently investigating.

As officials struggle to understand what happened, the accident has reopened questions about the safety of New York City tourist helicopter operations, where flying over densely populated communities is a contentious issue. The accident has again emphasized the need for tighter controls and wider safety inspections in the air tourism sector.

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