What we know about the New York City helicopter crash investigation
Six people were killed on April 10 when a sightseeing helicopter plummeted into the Hudson River upside down, officials said.
Federal authorities have begun their investigation into the deadly crash of a sightseeing helicopter into the Hudson River in New York City on April 10.
The chopper plunged into the Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey, at about 3:15 p.m. on April 10, killing all six people on board. Video of the crash shows the helicopter careening into the water followed moments later by a detached rotor blade. The National Transportation Safety Board said it would closely examine the wreckage to find out what went wrong.
The victims included the pilot and a family of five with three children who were visiting from Spain.
"Our prayers are with all of the family members involved, and no words can fill the void, the loss. We know that. But we can cooperate and collaborate together to ensure that this family and the families involved and loved ones receive support from the city," New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in an April 12 news conference.
Here's what we know about the crash:
What happened to the helicopter?
The Bell 206 helicopter took off from a heliport in downtown Manhattan the afternoon of April 10 for an aerial tour of the city, said Jennifer Homendy, chair of the NTSB. It was operated by New York Helicopter Charter Inc. and was owned by Meridian Helicopters LLC, based in Louisiana.
It flew north over the Hudson, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. It turned south when it reached the George Washington Bridge. It crashed at about 3:15 p.m. and landed upside down in the water near Lower Manhattan, just off Jersey City.
Officials haven't determined the cause of the crash, but aviation experts said video of the crash appears to indicate a catastrophic failure of the helicopter's rotor, which was seen detached.
Who were the victims?
Among the six killed in the April 10 crash were pilot Seankese Johnson, 36, and a family of five visiting from Spain, including 49-year-old Agustin Escobar, an executive at tech company Siemens, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children, ages 4, 8 and 10.
Joan Camprubí Montal, the brother of Mercè Camprubí Montal, said at a news conference alongside Adams on April 12 that the family was grateful for the support and condolences received, calling the Escobar-Camprubí family "a really loved family." He said he wants to bring their remains back home as soon as possible.
"They left together. They left without suffering. And they left with a smile on their faces," Joan Camprubí Montal said. "And that's important for us. As a family we want to remember and honor their happiness and their smile forever."
Adams said the 8-year-old would have turned 9 on April 11. Escobar was in town on business and the family joined him to extend the trip and celebrate, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop also said.
Johnson had 788 hours of flight time as a pilot and had a commercial pilot certificate, Homendy said. He was a Navy veteran and had recently moved to New York City, according to his Facebook profile.
Video shows helicopter crash
Video taken by witnesses shows the moment the small helicopter plummeted into the river, followed by a rogue rotor.
Tour company releases statement
The company that operated the sightseeing tours, New York Helicopter Tours, said in a statement on its website that it would cooperate with the investigation:
"New York Helicopter Tours is profoundly saddened by the tragic accident and loss of life that occurred on April 10, 2025, involving one of our helicopters in the Hudson River. At New York Helicopter Tours, the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew has always been the cornerstone of our operations. Our immediate focus is supporting the families and their loved ones affected by this tragedy, as well as fully cooperating with the FAA and NTSB investigations. These agencies have asked us to respect the investigative process by referring all press inquiries to them for any further comment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families."
Contributing: Christopher Cann and Michael Loria, Paste BN; Reuters
(This story has been updated to add new information.)