THE tour firm behind the horror Hudson River helicopter crash that left six dead has a chilling history of sky-high close calls.
New York Helicopter Charter, the operator of , has been involved in multiple terrifying incidents in the past 12 years – including another crash in the same river.
Back in 2013, one of its choppers lost power mid-air during a sightseeing tour and was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson near Manhattan's Upper West Side.
The pilot deployed inflatable pontoons to keep the aircraft upright, and the four Swedish tourists onboard were taken to hospital.
Just two years later, in 2015, another of the firm's helicopters spun out of control while hovering 20 feet above the ground after takeoff in New Jersey.
An investigation later revealed the Bell 206 chopper had previously been involved in a rough landing in Chile in 2010, The New York Times reported.
A drive shaft installed on the aircraft was found to be “unairworthy”, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the “deliberate concealment and reuse”; of the faulty part by “unknown personnel”; caused the crash.
Now, the company is again under fire after its leased Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV — just 18 minutes after taking off from Wall Street Heliport.
All six people onboard were killed – including Siemens Mobility executive Agustin Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children.
The Spanish family had just landed in New York from Barcelona the previous day for their vacation.
Eyewitness Rashmi Kamkeri watched the crash unfold from her window.
She told the Daily Mail: “It was horrifying. I thought it was thunder and ten seconds later I saw the helicopter 10 feet above the water falling and then it made a big splash and went underneath the water.”;
“I was almost in tears praying that someone would come and save them.”;
Agustin, 55, was appointed Siemens’ Global CEO of Rail Infrastructure in October.
His wife Merce had worked at Siemens Energy and is said to be descended from two former Barcelona FC presidents — including the one who brought Johan Cruyff to the club.
Their three children – all believed to be in middle school or younger – were taken before the flight.
Agustin's former colleague Juan Ignacio Diaz said: “He was such a great person — kind, steady, and always there when you needed him.
“He was a loving, fun, and just really cool dad. I’m going to miss him and his family. I love you my friend.”;
The family’s death has sparked renewed scrutiny into New York Helicopter Charter, which filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and has faced years of financial troubles, according to The New York Times.
In December, one of its choppers was repossessed after the firm failed to make lease payments, court records show.
, has since spoken on the tragedy.
He told The New York Post: “It’s devastation. “I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated. I’m absolutely devastated.
“This is horrific. But you gotta remember something, these are machines and they break.”;
The NTSB has now launched a full investigation into the crash.
Witnesses reported hearing a “sonic boom”; and seeing the aircraft “flying erratically”; before debris rained down into the river.
Mayor Eric Adams said: “Our hearts go out to the families of those who were onboard.”;
