Hudson River helicopter crash: What we learn about victims of deadly incident in New York? | EUROtoday

Six individuals, together with a pair, their three kids, and the pilot, have been recognized because the victims aboard the helicopter that plunged into the Hudson River on April 10.

The Spanish household and the pilot had been killed after the vacationer helicopter broke aside midair and plunged upside-down into the water in Lower Manhattan.

Debris was captured by passers-by, flailing within the air because the tragedy unfolded.

Agustin Escobar, CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, his spouse, Mercè Camprubí Montal, world commercialization supervisor at Siemens Energy, and their kids, aged 4, 5, and 11, had been named by an individual briefed on the investigation to The Associated Press.

The helicopter pilot is but to be recognized by officers.

Photos posted on the helicopter firm’s web site confirmed the couple and their kids smiling earlier than they boarded simply earlier than the flight took off.

Authorities confirmed the Bell 206 helicopter took off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at 2:59 p.m., headed towards the Statue of Liberty. It then flew north alongside Manhattan, up the river to the George Washington Bridge, earlier than turning south once more.

It went off the radar at 3:15 p.m.

President Donald Trump has provided his condolences whereas confirming that the National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation.

Agustin Escobar

The father of the household who perished within the crash has been named as Agustin Escobar.

According to his LinkedIn web page, Escobar labored because the Global CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility in a profession that spanned over 27 years.

He started his tenure in 1998 as the pinnacle of gross sales and challenge administration of Power Automation methods in Madrid, working his approach as much as varied administration positions earlier than being named Global CEO of Rail Infrastructure final October.

He beforehand served because the CEO of Siemens Spain.

On his profile, Escobar stated that he was now primarily based in Berlin.

Just a day earlier than the crash, Escobar posted about his firm’s newest rail challenge being launched within the UK.

“What an inspiring example of investment in rail infrastructure and technology! Looking forward to seeing the innovation that will emerge from this new center,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

A Siemens spokesperson offered an announcement to The Independent Friday: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar and his family lost their lives. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all their loved ones.”

The firm confirmed to The Independent that each Escobar and Montal had been their workers.

Mercè Camprubí Montal

Mercè Montal.

According to her LinkedIn web page, Montal labored for Siemens Energy in Barcelona as the worldwide commercialization supervisor for the digital crew.

Before beginning on the automation firm as a regional gross sales supervisor in Catalonia, Spain, in April 2009, Montal studied on the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona and the IESE Business School.

She previously labored as the pinnacle of technique and enterprise improvement for Siemens’ South America operation in Bogota, Colombia, from 2013 to 2018.

Her husband labored because the CEO of infrastructure and cities for South America from the identical workplace on the time. Both moved again to Spain in 2018.

The mom of three’s Facebook web page confirmed completely satisfied household images along with their younger kids. The most up-to-date photograph with two of her kids pictured her smiling whereas embracing throughout a ski trip.

An older photograph from 2015 confirmed the couple sitting in a yacht in a sunny marina.

Three kids aged 4, 5, and 11

The couple’s three kids had been on board the vacationer flight.

Their names are but to be formally launched.

The household was staying on the Hotel Riu Plaza in Times Square, experiences The Daily Beast.

The unidentified helicopter pilot

A sixth sufferer who died onboard the flight was the helicopter pilot, who’s but to be formally recognized by authorities.

He is believed to be a 36-year-old male, experiences The Daily Mail.

The pilot reportedly warned he wanted to refuel simply moments earlier than the plane disintegrated midair, in accordance with The Mail.

It was flying for roughly 18 minutes earlier than it nose-dived into the water.

What went unsuitable?

Witness Bruce Wall advised AP he noticed the helicopter “falling apart” midair, with the tail and fundamental rotor coming off. The fundamental rotor was nonetheless spinning because it fell to the water, separated from the helicopter.

The Federal Aviation Administration recognized the helicopter as a Bell 206, a mannequin broadly utilized in industrial and authorities aviation, together with by sightseeing corporations, TV information stations, and police. It was initially developed for the U.S. Army earlier than being tailored for different makes use of. Thousands have been manufactured through the years.

The National Transportation Safety Board stated was now investigating the crash.

Dan Rice, who ceaselessly flies in the identical mannequin of helicopter because the one which plummeted into the Hudson River, has stated it was “obviously a catastrophic failure” which precipitated the crash.

Speaking to CBS Newshe stated: “Obviously, a catastrophic failure of the aircraft. That’s very obvious. Booms and noises like that indicate some sort of mechanical issue.”

The proprietor of the vacationer helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River this afternoon, killing all six individuals on board, together with a household from Spain, advised The New York Post he’s “devastated.”

“It’s devastation,” New York Helicopter Tours CEO Michael Roth stated. “I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated. I’m absolutely devastated.

“The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter,” a visibly shaken Roth stated. “And I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years being in business, in the helicopter business. The only thing I could guess – I got no clue – is that it either had a bird strike or the main rotor blades failed. I have no clue. I don’t know.”

President Donald Trump expressed his condolences to the household and associates of the victims and said that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and his division are investigating.

“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. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his talented staff are on it. Announcements as to exactly what took place, and how, will be made shortly!”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has commented on the “unimaginable tragedy.”

Sanchez stated in an announcement: “The news reaching us today of the helicopter crash in the Hudson River is devastating.

“Five Spaniards from the same family, three of them children, and the pilot have lost their lives.

“An unimaginable tragedy. I share in the grief of the victims’ loved ones at this heartbreaking time.”