The head of Siemens company in Spain Agustin Escobar, has died alongside his wife and their three children when the helicopter they were travelling crashed into the Hudson River in New York, USA.
According to reports the family boarded the aircraft at about 3.00pm on Thursday and 15 minutes later it broke apart midair and plunged into the river, killing Mr. Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and the couple’s three children aged four, five and 11. The 36-year-old pilot also died.
New York mayor Eric Adams said the dead, including three children, had been recovered and removed from the water.
The tragedy is the deadliest helicopter crash in New York City since at least 2018, according to the New York Times. The pilot who was flying the helicopter which crashed into the Hudson River reportedly made a radio call warning moments before the crash.
Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter Tours which provided the tour, reportedly said the pilot had called in to say that he was landing, and he needed fuel but did not arrive.
“We’re all devastated. Every employee in our company is devastated,” Roth said.
Meanwhile an aviation expert Julian Bray has suggested that the crash might have been caused by “Jesus nut.” He said “Jesus nut” a componet that secures the rotor blades to the mast may have failed to function midair.
Mr Bray said: “What appears to have happened with this particular helicopter is that the rotor, the main rotor… had detached, because in one video we see the blades spinning away from the helicopter.
