Pilot of NYC helicopter made haunting radio call before Hudson crash claimed 6 lives: 'He needed fuel'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The skies over Manhattan turned into a nightmare on Thursday afternoon, April 10, when a sightseeing helicopter plunged into the frigid Hudson River — killing all six people aboard, including a top Spanish business executive, his wife, and their three kids.

Now, the contents of the pilot’s chilling final radio call have been revealed.

Michael Roth, the 71-year-old owner of New York Helicopter — the company behind the tragic tour — told The Telegraph: “He called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel. It should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive.”

By the time the calls to 911 started flooding in around 3.17 pm (just minutes after the chopper took off from downtown Manhattan), it was already too late. The aircraft — believed to be a Bell 206L-4 (N216MH) — had already nose-dived into the Hudson near Pier 40, close to the New Jersey side of Lower Manhattan.

A family photo taken before the tragedy

One of the most gut-wrenching things to surface is a photo of the doomed family smiling moments before boarding the helicopter. They were posing on the helipad - full of excitement and completely unaware they were living their final moments.

The victims were confirmed by authorities to include Agustín Escobar, the recently appointed CEO of Siemens Spain, his wife, their three children, and the pilot, whose identity is still being withheld.

Escobar wasn’t just a big name in the boardroom. The Spanish-born exec took over Siemens Spain in 2022 and previously led Siemens Mobility Spain. From 1998 to 2010, he held various energy sector roles and even served as the vice president of the German Chamber of Commerce for Spain, according to the Daily Mail.

The helicopter was 'upside down' and 'split in half'

As the hours passed, more chilling details emerged. Roth revealed how he found out something had gone terribly wrong. He said he started getting a ton of phone messages before one of his other pilots flew over the Hudson and made the horrifying discovery — “he saw the helicopter upside down.”

“We’re all devastated. Every employee in our company is devastated. My wife has not stopped crying,” Roth said. “The death of the child of any human being is a monumental disaster.”

Multiple eyewitnesses described chaos in the skies right before the crash. One person claimed they saw the helicopter “split in half”, while another reported hearing what sounded like a “sonic boom.” Video footage circulating on social media showed the chopper flying erratically before slamming into the river — with pieces of the aircraft visibly breaking off mid-air.

It seems the helicopter was only in the air for about 16 minutes, taking off from the Wall Street Heliport, looping around the Statue of Liberty, and cruising north up the Hudson toward the George Washington Bridge while flying at around 1,000 feet. But something went catastrophically wrong before it ever made it that far.

Emergency crews respond, crash conditions revealed

Emergency responders were on the scene fast, but there was little they could do. By 5:15 pm, the rescue mission had shifted into recovery mode, per Fox 5. According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, four people were already dead at the scene, and two more succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.

“Our hearts go out to the families of those who were onboard,” said New York Mayor Eric Adams. “All six have been removed from the water, and sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased."

At the time of the crash, conditions were far from perfect — but not exactly dangerous. CNN reported cloudy skies, winds at 10 to 15 mph with gusts hitting 25 mph, and a water temperature around 50°F. Visibility was actually good, with clear line-of-sight up to 10 miles, although a system was moving in with light rain expected later in the day.

Still, officials say it’s too early to pinpoint the exact cause of the crash, and the chopper’s desperate call for fuel minutes before the plunge is raising major questions.

Escobar was a beloved figure in the industry and beyond. The Spanish Consulate in NYC is now in close contact with authorities as the Spanish Foreign Ministry awaits more details. 

Meanwhile, the Jersey City Police Department has taken the lead in the investigation, holding the scene until the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) steps in. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop confirmed the local PD is working closely with federal officials, the Daily Mail reported.

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