The final moments of a family’s joyful birthday celebration turned to tragedy on Thursday afternoon when a sightseeing helicopter plummeted into the Hudson River, claiming the lives of all six aboard. Among them were Agustín Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three young children—Agustín Jr., 10, Mercè, 8, and Víctor, 4—who had traveled from Barcelona to New York City to mark their daughter’s ninth birthday. The pilot, 36-year-old Sean Johnson, a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran who had recently moved to the city to chase his passion for aviation, also perished in the crash. The incident, which unfolded just after 3:15 p.m. near Jersey City, has left a community grieving and authorities searching for answers.
The helicopter, a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV operated by New York Helicopter Tours, had taken off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at 2:59 p.m. The family’s itinerary promised breathtaking views of Manhattan’s skyline, with a route that swept south toward the Statue of Liberty before heading north along the Hudson River. Witnesses later recounted a harrowing scene as the aircraft, just 16 minutes into its flight, appeared to disintegrate midair. A loud “boom” echoed across the water as the main rotor blades detached, sending the fuselage spiraling upside down into the river near Pier 40. Video footage captured the chilling descent, showing the rotor-less craft tumbling before striking the water with a massive splash.
Emergency responders, including divers from the New York Police Department and Fire Department, raced to the scene. Four victims were pronounced dead on-site, their bodies recovered from the wreckage. Two others, pulled from the frigid river, succumbed to their injuries at a nearby hospital. Dive operations continued into Friday as crews worked to retrieve the mangled remains of the helicopter, hoisting it from the riverbed for examination. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have launched a joint investigation, with early speculation pointing to a catastrophic mechanical failure, though no official cause has been determined.
Sean Johnson’s journey to the cockpit was one of determination and grit. A former Navy SEAL and gunner’s mate, he had served his country repairing equipment and supporting missions before pivoting to a varied career that included stints on television sets and as a celebrity bodyguard. Yet flying was his true calling. After working as a pilot in Chicago, he relocated to New York City to further his ambitions. Just two weeks before the crash, on March 27, Johnson shared a video of himself soaring over Lower Manhattan in the same model helicopter, his pride evident as friends and colleagues showered him with support online. His wife, Kathryn Johnson, spoke of their close bond despite a recent separation, recalling a conversation they had the day before the tragedy. “It’s just hard right now,” she said, her voice heavy with loss. Tributes from fellow service members and friends flooded social media, one writing, “You worked so hard to become a pilot. Rest in peace, Sean, gone too soon.”
The Escobar family’s loss has reverberated across continents. Agustín Escobar, 49, was a towering figure in the global tech industry, serving as the CEO of rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility. His wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, 45, held a senior role as a global commercialization manager at Siemens Energy. The couple, based in Barcelona, had built a life of accomplishment, with Camprubí Montal carrying the legacy of her family’s deep ties to FC Barcelona—her grandfather and great-grandfather both served as presidents of the storied soccer club. Their children, full of promise, were at the heart of their world. The family had planned the helicopter tour as a special treat, a moment to celebrate together in a city alive with possibility.
Michael Roth, CEO of New York Helicopter Tours, expressed profound sorrow, noting the unbearable weight of losing children in the crash. “These are machines, and they break,” he said, grappling with the unpredictability of such disasters. Roth suggested a bird strike or rotor failure as possible triggers but stressed that answers remain elusive. The investigation will scrutinize maintenance records, pilot actions, and environmental factors, with a preliminary report expected in weeks, though a full accounting may take months.
As New York City mourns, the crash has reignited concerns about the safety of sightseeing helicopter tours. The Hudson River corridor, bustling with air traffic, has seen deadly incidents before, including a 2009 collision that killed nine and a 2018 crash that claimed five lives. For now, the families of the victims hold tight to memories—of a pilot who soared with purpose and a family whose love illuminated their final moments together.