Family of Five Dies in Helicopter Crash Carrying the Same Yellow Bag – What Was Inside?
On April 10, 2025, the city of New York witnessed a devastating tragedy when a Bell 206 helicopter plunged into the Hudson River during a tourist tour.
A Spanish family of five was on board the ill-fated aircraft: Agustín Escobar, CEO of Siemens Spain; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal; and their three children, Víctor (4), Mercedes (8), and Agustín (10). They all died in the impact, along with the pilot, Sean Johnson.
The helicopter, operated by the New York Helicopter Company, took off at 2:59 p.m. from the Lower Manhattan heliport. It flew along the coast of Manhattan and New Jersey until 3:17 p.m. when it lost contact with the control tower. Just before the accident, the pilot reported needing fuel and received authorization to continue his flight.
Divers from the New York Police Department work at the site where a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on April 11, 2025, in Jersey City, New Jersey | Source: Getty Images
It Broke in the Air
Witnesses
recounted
hearing a loud bang, followed by the sight of the helicopter’s rotors and tail detaching in midair. The aircraft then split in two, violently impacting the water and submerging in an inverted position. Images of the catastrophic accident rapidly spread across social media.
What Caused the Accident?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are
currently investigating
what led to the accident. However, the helicopter did not have flight recorders or cabin cameras, which complicates the analysis.
Furthermore, key parts, such as the main rotor and transmission, have not yet been recovered from the river, making it impossible to determine the origin of the failure with certainty.
Justin Green, a lawyer and former helicopter pilot,
explained
that the videos point to a “catastrophic mechanical failure.” He pointed out that the main rotor might have hit the helicopter’s tail, which would explain its sudden loss of control and why there was no chance of saving the aircraft.
Divers from the New York Police Department work at the scene where a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on April 11, 2025, in Jersey City, New Jersey | Source: Getty Images
A Broken Legacy
Agustín was
a native
of Puertollano, Ciudad Real, and had built an outstanding career at Siemens Mobility. His wife, Mercè, was the global marketing manager at Siemens Energy and came from a well-known Catalan business family.
The family was celebrating birthdays and enjoying a few days together in New York. Their last activity, a tourist aerial tour, ended in tragedy.
In a message published online, Joan Camprubí Montal, Mercè’s brother,
expressed
, “These are very difficult times, but optimism and joy have always characterized our family. We want to keep the memory of a happy and united family, in the sweetest moment of their lives.”
The Yellow Bag That the Escobar-Camprubí Family Was Carrying
In one of the last photographs taken before the accident, each member of the Escobar-Camprubí family is seen wearing an identical yellow bag around their waist.
It was the
Heli vest from EAM Worldwide
, a safety device designed specifically for helicopter tourist flights. This double-cell life jacket is stored in a compact bag that is worn around the waist like a fanny pack.
It is designed to allow quick extraction and inflation in a water emergency and includes an automatic light, whistle, and reflective strips to facilitate water rescue.
However, in this case, the vests could
not save the family
. The violent aerial impact, the detachment of the rotors, and the abrupt fall into the water did not allow time for any evacuation or safety activation maneuvers. The vests were not inflated when their bodies were recovered.
Debris floats near the site where a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on April 11, 2025, in Jersey City, New Jersey | Source: Getty Images
Online Reaction
The images of the accident and the story about the victims have deeply moved thousands of people on social media.
“I’m completely heartbroken and saddened by this news. My thoughts are with the family and everyone affected by this tragedy. May they find strength and comfort in the days ahead,”
wrote
a netizen.
Another
stated
,
“Such a tragedy…….it must of [sic] been a very scary and devastating experience for them all. My deepest condolences to their family. So heartbreaking.”
Another person
expressed
,
“That crash looked horrendous. Prayers for this family and the ones they left behind. Unthinkable.”
The Hudson River tragedy has reopened the debate on the safety of tourist flights in New York, as a private plane
recently crashed
near Copake, killing all on board.
While the investigation into the helicopter’s malfunction continues, the memory of the Escobar-Camprubí family and the pilot remains alive in the hearts of those who knew them.
