The pilot of the helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River on April 10, tragically killing six people including a visiting Spanish family of five, had reportedly warned his base mid-flight that the aircraft was running low on fuel.

The devastating accident unfolded around 3:15 p.m., just 16 minutes into a sightseeing tour that was supposed to offer scenic views of New York City. On board were Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three young children, ages 4, 5, and 11. The 36-year-old pilot, whose name has not yet been released publicly, also died in the crash.

Witnesses described the horror in stark detail, with many saying they saw the helicopter “split in half” in the sky before plunging into the river near Pier 40. Videos shared on social media appeared to show the tail and rotor blades detaching mid-air, pointing to a possible catastrophic mechanical failure.

The Escobar family had arrived from Barcelona earlier that day, eager to enjoy a holiday in the city. Their tour took off from the Wall Street Heliport and flew past the Statue of Liberty before heading north up the Hudson River toward the George Washington Bridge. It was during this route that the pilot made a distress call.

According to Michael Roth, the 71-year-old owner of New York Helicopter—the company that operated the flight—the pilot contacted base shortly after takeoff to report the urgent fuel situation. Roth told The Telegraph that the pilot intended to return to the helipad for refueling. “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 explained.

Roth, visibly shaken, said the news has left everyone at the company devastated. “Every employee in our company is devastated. My wife has not stopped crying,” he told the media. “Then one of my pilots flew over the Hudson and saw the helicopter upside down.”

He added, “The death of the child of any human being is a monumental disaster.”

Reports and eyewitness accounts continued to paint a grim picture. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisc confirmed that the helicopter “lost control and hit the water.” One bystander described hearing a noise that “sounded like a sonic boom,” followed by the aircraft seemingly “splitting in two” and crashing into the river with terrifying speed.

The FAA and NTSB have launched investigations to determine what caused the crash. While preliminary observations suggest a mechanical failure, official findings are still pending.

Heart-wrenching photos of the Escobar family surfaced online in the hours after the tragedy, including images of them smiling at the helipad and inside the helicopter moments before takeoff.

Michael Roth later shared with the New York Post that upon reviewing video footage of the fall, “the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter,” underscoring just how sudden and catastrophic the failure might have been. He admitted he had “no clue” yet as to how such a thing could have happened.

The Bell 206 helicopter was operated by New York Helicopter but owned by Meridian Helicopters, a Louisiana-based company specializing in leasing and selling rotorcraft. This model has been widely used for decades, though it has been involved in a number of fatal incidents in New York since the 1970s.

This tragic event has sent shockwaves through both the aviation community and the global business world, especially given Escobar’s role as the global CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility. The company issued a public statement expressing deep sorrow and extending condolences to the victims’ loved ones.

As investigations continue, many are left grieving and searching for answers. A family’s joyful vacation ended in unthinkable loss, leaving behind only memories, unanswered questions, and a profound reminder of how fragile life can be.