A witness recounted the sounds he heard as a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing a family of five and their pilot.

On April 10, the Bell 206 aircraft, operated by New York Helicopters, went down at 3:17PM, just minutes after takeoff from Downtown Manhattan.

All six victims were recovered from the wreckage. Four were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others died after being transported to local hospitals. The aircraft had been on its sixth flight of the day.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams later confirmed the identities of the deceased: Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive from Barcelona; his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal; and their three children, aged 11, five, and four.

The pilot was also killed and has been identified as 36-year-old Navy SEAL veteran Sean Johnson.

Witnesses described a terrifying scene as the helicopter spiraled out of the sky and crashed into the river with a thunderous splash.

“It sounded like a sonic boom so I look up and literally I saw helicopter splitting in 2, with the rotor flying off in the sky it was going so fast and it just went straight into the water,” an eyewitness named Max told ABC7.

“Nothing came up afterwards; it must have just sunk, and that was it, and then I just waited here, and like five minutes later, we started seeing the police and stuff come. I've never seen anything like that in my life.

He continued: “For me, I just thought it was going to be like city noise, like a crash or like maybe like a jet going overhead - I know that's probably not common."

Other witnesses reported seeing pieces fall from the sky. Dani Horbiak told ABC News: “I heard five or six loud noises that sounded almost like gunshots in the sky and saw pieces fall off, then watched it fall into the river.”

And Avi Rakesh told NBC News, “I don’t know what happened to the tail, but it just straight up dropped. It dropped feet away from Holland Tunnel, and I can’t imagine if it hit it.”

A haunting video shared online shows the helicopter spiraling through the air, missing its rotors, before crashing upside down into the Hudson River.

According to Michael Roth, the 71-year-old owner of New York Helicopter, the pilot had radioed that he was heading back to the helipad for fuel.

“He 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.

He added that another pilot with the company later flew over the river and spotted the helicopter upside down in the water.

At the time of the tragic incident, President Donald Trump posted about it on Truth Social: “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!” he added.

The crash has triggered investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Featured image credit: Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Image

The father of the man who flew the American Airlines plane that fatally collided with a military helicopter has spoken out.

In the aftermath of the tragic mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., on January 29, which claimed 67 lives, two individuals with ties to Georgia have been identified among the victims.

First Officer Samuel "Sam" Lilley, 28, served as the first officer on American Airlines Flight 5342. He began his flight training in 2019 and had been with PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, for two years. Sam was engaged to be married later this year.

His father, Timothy Lilley, a former Army helicopter pilot, expressed his profound grief, stating to Fox 5 Atlanta, "This is undoubtedly the worst day of my life."

Timothy, who was in New York for work reasons, recalled. "Last night when I saw on Fox News there was a crash in DC, I really didn't think there was any way that was my son."

However, when he didn't heart from his son, who always checked in, he realized the worst had happened.

Reflecting on his son's passion for aviation, he added, "He loved it. We just confirmed the news. We are in complete shock." 

Timothy, who served 20 years as a helicopter pilot in the Army, added: "In the '90s, I used to fly in and out of the Pentagon regularly, and I can tell you if you are flying on the route over the Potomac and wearing night vision goggles, it's going to be very hard to see that plane. If you're not wearing the goggles, then you might have a chance.

He believes the American Airlines plane was following proper protocol, but the military aircraft made a fatal error. "From what I can see, those guys turned right into the jet. I think the PSA jet was doing everything right. The Army pilot made a grave error. It hurts me because those are my brothers, and now my son is dead," Timothy said.

Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hara, 28, a 2014 graduate of Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia, was the crew chief aboard the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the collision.

He was remembered by his high school's Marine Corps JROTC program, which stated, "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of one of our own."

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Josh Muehlendorf, who served with O'Hara, described him as "one of the most dedicated, disciplined, and committed soldiers I've ever worked with." 

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp extended his condolences, saying, "We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Ryan O’Hara and Sam Lilley as they navigate this difficult time." He highlighted their shared passion for flight and service, noting the profound loss felt by their unexpected passing. 

As investigations continue into the cause of this devastating accident, communities in Georgia and beyond mourn the loss of these two dedicated individuals.

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A US airman who was killed in a plane crash in Iran had shared a haunting final conversation with his father the day before his death.

Tech Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, was one of six US service members who died when an Air Force refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq on March 12.

The US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker collided with another tanker while flying in what officials described as "friendly airspace", while the second aircraft involved was able to land safely.

According to his father, in their last phone conversation from the Middle East, Simmons had predicted his was not "coming back" home from the Iran war.

His father, Mylo, told CNN that Simmons was "very calm" on their call the day before, saying that he "Told me how much he loved me, he told me to say he loved his dog, Grayson… and you know, he was very insightful.

"Unfortunately, he did tell me he didn’t think he was coming back."

Mylo told his only son that he hoped "he was going to be wrong", but managed to find some comfort that "he died doing what he loved doing."

The devastated father added: "I always shared with him, ‘Live life with no regrets.' And knowing Tyler, if he could do it all over again, he’d probably make the same decision because he loved what he did.

"I mean, obviously no one wants to die and no one foresaw that or saw that coming, but Tyler was… oh, he was just an amazing son and it was my privilege to be able to be his father."

The 28-year-old, who was from Columbus, Ohio, had spoken to his family about the hardships of his deployment, with his mother, Cheryl, telling WSYX that his team had previously been shot at.

She also opened up about the moment officers arrived at her door to tell her that Simmons had died, adding: "When he opened the door, he said, 'Oh no,' and I jumped up and ran in there and they were lined up out on the porch. You got to me kidding me."

As well as Simmons, the other casualties of the crash were Seth Koval, 38, and Curtis Angst, 30, part of the 121st Air Refueling Wing at the Rickenbacker base in Columbus, and three members of the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida: Maj John. A Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana Savino, 31; and Tech Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34.

Featured image credit: Today Show/family handout

The brother of a woman who died alongside her husband, three children, and their pilot in a helicopter crash in New York City has spoken publicly following the tragedy.

Merce Camprubi Montal, her husband Agustín Escobar—a Siemens executive from Barcelona—and their three children, aged 11, five, and four, were killed when a sightseeing helicopter plunged into the Hudson River on Thursday, April 10.

The aircraft was being flown by former Navy SEAL Sean Johnson, who had radioed New York Helicopters shortly before the crash to report that the chopper needed fuel.

Michael Roth, the 71-year-old owner of the helicopter, told The Telegraph: "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."

Eyewitness Max told ABC7: "It sounded like a sonic boom so I look up and literally I saw helicopter splitting in 2, with the rotor flying off in the sky it was going so fast and it just went straight into the water.

"Nothing came up afterwards it must have just sunk and that was it, and then I just waited here and like five minutes later we started seeing the police and stuff come. I've never seen anything like that in my life."

He continued: "For me I just thought it was going to be like city noise, like a crash or like maybe like a jet going overhead - I know that's probably not common. But yeah, just like a big bang on my right and then like a whoop whoop [making a helicopter noise] as you see the propeller like flying off like up way higher than the the helicopter and just land straight in the water.

"I'm not like [sure], maybe the tail separated? But I think definitely the rotor separated and the body went straight into the water, so some something must have happened with the rotor and it just flipped right off."

All six people onboard were confirmed dead, and a full investigation is underway by the National Transportation Safety Board.

In the days following the crash, Merce Camprubi Montal’s brother, Joan Camprubí Montal, traveled to New York to identify the bodies of his sister and her family. He laid a wreath near the crash site and addressed reporters in his native language.

During the press conference, he recited each of the five victims’ names and said: “We will never forget you. We will keep your smile alive every day of our lives, and I believe that’s the best legacy we can give you.”

The pilot’s wife, Kathryn Johnson, also spoke out in the wake of the loss. She told the Gothamist: "I'm just at loss for words. I don't even know what happened. It's just hard right now.”

Johnson’s co-pilot and friend, Earl Watters, wrote on Facebook: "With a heavy heart I post this...Thanks to everyone that has reached out to me. Yes, the pilot of the helicopter crash in NY was my Co-Pilot and great friend on Boomer last year Sean Johnson. ... The world has lost an all around great person and amazing friend. He definitely changed my life for the better and I just want to celebrate his life and how he lived. Always and forever a BOOMER crew member Godspeed Amigo."

The helicopter had taken off from Downtown Manhattan at 2:59PM and was reportedly on its sixth flight of the day. Officials believe the aircraft was a Bell 206.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash and are working to determine whether mechanical failure or other issues contributed to the fatal incident.

Featured image credit: Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Image

Three first responders have been killed when a medical helicopter crashed in Madison County, Mississippi, on Monday.

The three men were traveling in an AirCare Eurocopter EC-135 helicopter when it went down in a heavily wooded area south of the Natchez Trace Parkway and north of Pipeline Road in Madison County, north of the capital Jackson, at approximately 1:15PM on Monday, March 10, per the FAA.

They have been named by the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) as Dustin Pope, 35, of Philadelphia, Mississippi; Jakob Kindt, 37, of Tupelo, Mississippi; and Cal Wesolowski, 62, of Starkville, Mississippi.

On Tuesday, WJTV News 12 also confirmed that Wesolowski was a Med-Trans pilot, Pope was a flight nurse and the base supervisor for AirCare in Columbus, while Kindt was a critical care paramedic.

The outlet cited officials who stated that Pope and Kindt had been working with UMMC since August 2017.

UMMC vice chancellor for health affairs, Dr. LouAnn Woodward, said during a press conference: "The entire Medical Center family is heartbroken over this."

She also confirmed that no patients had been onboard the helicopter at the time of the tragic incident, and the crew had been on their way back to Columbus after having transported a patient at the time of the deadly crash.

NTSB spokesman Todd Imman said during a press conference, per WAPT: "At one point during the flight, they ceased communications with air traffic control and communicated with base."

Before the AirCare helicopter lost control, Wesolowski had told control that they were having issues and were planning to attempt to land in a nearby field according to Imman.

Shortly afterward, 911 calls were made by witnesses who'd seen the helicopter crash and burst into flames.

Imman revealed that it took between two and three hours to extinguish the fire after the helicopter crashed in a remote and muddy area.

He added during the press conference: "We just finished our initial site visit. We were able to observe tree scratch marks that would be consistent with a rotor strike."

The fatal crash is the first in the 29-year history of the AirCare emergency services, according to CBS News, which cited a statement from the university.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves wrote Facebook: "It's a tragic reminder of the risks Mississippi's first responders take every day to keep us safe. Our state will never forget the sacrifice of these heroes."

An investigation has been launched into the deadly crash by the FAA [Federal Aviation Authority] and the National Transportation Safety Board [NTSB], with an initial report expected to be available within 30 days and the full report within 12-24 months,

It's the latest tragic crash within the US following a spate of air incidents this year so far.

The year began with a tragic plane crash in Washington D.C. on January 29, when a commercial jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew collided with a US Military Black Hawk helicopter with three soldiers on board.

The plane had been coming in to land at Reagan Airport when it was struck by the helicopter, which was on a training mission, sending both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River, killing everyone on board.

Just days later, a medical jet crashed in Philadelphia while on its way to Mexico, killing all six on board and one person on the ground below.

A small plane carrying 10 people also crashed in Alaska this year, killing everyone on board, and two people died in February after two planes collided in midair at Arizona's Marana Airport. 

On Sunday (March 9), a small aircraft crashed in a neighborhood in Pennsylvania, landing on a row of parked cars and bursting into flames. All of the five on board were taken to local hospitals and their condition is unknown.

Last month, a Delta Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Toronto also flipped as it landed and burst into flames, though miraculously all on board made it out alive.

Featured image credit: Facebook/UMMC