NYC Hudson River Helicopter Crash: Who was Agustín Escobar? Siemens CEO killed along with five others, including his family

A sightseeing helicopter tour meant to capture New York City’s iconic skyline ended in tragedy Thursday when the aircraft broke apart midair and crashed into the Hudson River. All six people onboard — the pilot and a family of five from Spain — were killed.

Among the victims was Agustín Escobar, a senior executive at Siemens, along with his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal and their three young children, ages 4, 5, and 11. The family had just landed in New York earlier that day.

Photos shared by the helicopter company captured the family smiling moments before takeoff, full of excitement and anticipation.

Who was Agustín Escobar?

Agustín Escobar had been leading Siemens Spain since 2022 and served as Global CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility — the company’s division focused on rail systems and transport technology. Based in Barcelona, Escobar had decades of global experience in leadership roles across the U.S., Germany, South America, and Spain.

He had only recently arrived in New York with his family before the sightseeing tour began.

According to a Siemens press release and his LinkedIn profile, Escobar was deeply committed to sustainability and frequently traveled for work. In recent weeks, he had made business trips to both India and the UK. He also held the role of Vice President of the German Chamber of Commerce for Spain since 2023.

In a personal message posted about his role at Siemens, Escobar wrote:

“my endless source of energy and happiness, for their unconditional support, love … and patience.”

His wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, was also a global manager in the energy technology sector. Together, they were raising three young children, full of life and promise. Their loss is being felt deeply across the international business and transport communities.

A sightseeing flight cut short

The helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Tours, lifted off from a heliport in Lower Manhattan around 3 pm.The flight plan traced a popular route along the Manhattan skyline, circling near the Statue of Liberty. But less than 18 minutes later, disaster struck.

Radar data showed the helicopter was returning south when witnesses reported seeing it break apart in the air.

“It was just falling apart,” said Bruce Wall, who witnessed the crash, AP reported. “The tail and the main rotor came off. The rotor was still spinning without the rest of the helicopter.”

Dani Horbiak was at her Jersey City home when she heard what sounded like “several gunshots in a row, almost, in the air.” She looked out her window and saw the chopper “splash in several pieces into the river.”

The helicopter was spinning uncontrollably with “a bunch of smoke coming out” before it slammed into the water, said Lesly Camacho, a hostess at a restaurant along the river in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Radio chatter from nearby NYPD helicopters captured the immediate response:

“Be advised, you do have an aircraft down. Holland Tunnel. Please keep your eyes open for anybody in the water.” About five minutes after that, someone asks, “Hey Finest, what’s going on over there by the Holland Tunnel?”

“The ship went down,” someone else responds.

Emergency boats swarmed the area within minutes. The aircraft crashed near the edge of a maintenance pier tied to the Holland Tunnel’s ventilation system. By 8 pm, crews had pulled the wreckage from the river using a floating crane. The bodies of all six victims were recovered, Mayor Eric Adams confirmed.

(With inputs from agencies)