NY rivers helicopter crashes: a record of more than 20 deaths

The tragedy struck New York on Thursday afternoon. A tourist helicopter crashed, losing its main propeller and falling into the waters of the Hudson River as it flew over it. Inside were six passengers: the pilot and a family of five enjoying a vacation in the city.

As soon as the accident occurred, the authorities rushed to the scene, with the primary objective of rescuing the passengers. But nothing could be done to rescue the six passengers alive and the only thing left to do was to certify their deaths.

While the emergency services acted to remove the helicopter and the lifeless bodies of the six passengers from the water, the authorities confirmed the identity of the family inside: Agustín Escobar, Merce Camprubi Montal and the couple's three children, aged 11, 5 and 4 years old. All of them are Spanish nationals. The pilot's name and face were not disclosed at this time.

This helicopter accident is the last one of similar characteristics that has occurred over the Hudson River. A history that has left 23 victims - counting these last six - in the last two decades.

Helicopter accidents over New York rivers

In the summer of 2009, a helicopter carrying five Italian tourists and the pilot collided over the Hudson River with a small plane carrying three passengers, including a minor. The emergency services arrived quickly and found the lifeless bodies of two people. As the hours and rescue efforts progressed, the possibility of finding survivors began to be ruled out.

"We don't think they could have survived," said Michael Bloomberg, then mayor of New York, in statements picked up by AFP. "This went from being a rescue to becoming a recovery mission."

And so it was. The next day, authorities confirmed that the nine people traveling inside both the small plane and the helicopter died.

The next accident occurred in 2011. Not on the Hudson River, but nearby, on the East River. Three tourists died after the helicopter in which they were traveling crashed.

Something similar happened seven years later. In 2018, a helicopter crashed in the East River, killing five of the six passengers. Only the pilot made it out alive.

US Airways Flight 1549

The worst disaster could have been in 2009, but an epic act meant that more than 150 people survived. On Jan. 15 of that year, the pilot of US Airways Flight 1549, Chesley Sullenberger, managed to save the lives of everyone inside the Airbus 320 aircraft he was flying.

Sullenberger, nicknamed Sully, managed to land the Airbus 320 aircraft he was handling over the Hudson River after a flock of birds crashed into one of the engines, completely losing function. With a dexterity worthy of being remembered, he managed to save both the 148 passengers and the six crew members.

That odyssey was recounted on film by Clint Eastwood with his movie Sully (2016), a title that honors the pilot. Tom Hanks was in charge of playing Sullenberger.

Call for a ban on tourist helicopters

After the accident occurred this April 10, voices appeared calling for an end to tourist helicopter flights in New York. State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (Democratic Party) called for a halt to this type of tourist attraction to avoid possible similar accidents and to protect New York's airspace.

"There is no reason to allow tourists and sightseeing flight operators to use our valuable and precious airspace. The danger is that the FAA regulates airspace above 500 feet, so the city and state are prohibited from passing laws to make tourist helicopters safer," he said, in remarks picked up by ABC 7 New York.