Several videos have emerged showing the moment that a helicopter plunged into New York City’s Hudson River on Thursday.
The tragic incident killed all six people who were on board.
Agustín Escobar and his wife, and their three children died in the crash, the New York Times reported.
Escobar was the president of the Spanish branch of the technology company Siemens.
The pilot is yet to be formally identified.
The tragedy took place at around 3:15 pm on Thursday.
The helicopter crashed closer to the New Jersey side of the Hudson River just off the tip of Lower Manhattan.
Calls to emergency services were received at approximately 3:17 pm.
It went down just 17 minutes after it took off from downtown Manhattan.
Michael Roth, 71, who owns New York Helicopter, which provided the tour and the chopper, said the aircraft needed fuel.
“He [the pilot] 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,” Roth told The Telegraph.
Roth said that he suddenly started receiving a surge of phone messages before one of his other pilots flew over the Hudson “and saw the helicopter upside down.”
“We’re all devastated,” Roth said.
“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,” Roth added.
Witnesses said they saw the chopper “split in half” before it went down near Pier 40.
One man reported hearing the stricken aircraft making what sounded like a “sonic boom.”
Videos show the helicopter spinning uncontrollably as it plunged into the water.
Another video shows the chopper’s rotor spinning separately and landing in the river.
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Heartbreaking photos showed the family posing on the helipad and inside the aircraft before the crash.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that the executive and his family were onboard the tour helicopter.
Escobar was appointed to serve as the CEO of Siemens in Spain in 2022.
He previously served as the CEO of Siemens Mobility Spain.
He also held various positions in Spain between 1998 and 2010, primarily in the energy sector.
Additionally, Escobar served as the vice president of the German Chamber of Commerce for Spain.
Officials said the victims include a business executive from Spain, an adult relative, three children, and the pilot.
The aircraft was operated by New York Helicopter, a local tour company.
The chopper appeared to be a N216MH – a Bell 206L-4, according to Flight Radar.
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