Pilot of crashed NYC helicopter identified
In this DML Report…
A Bell 206 helicopter operated by New York Helicopter Charters crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey, killing all six onboard. The pilot, Sean Johnson, 36, was a Navy SEAL veteran who had recently moved to New York City to pursue his aviation career. The passengers were a Spanish family of five: Siemens executive Agustín Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, ages 4, 8, and 10. The family had arrived in New York that day to celebrate one of their children’s birthdays. The helicopter took off from the Wall Street Heliport, circled near the Statue of Liberty, and was flying at about 1,000 feet toward the George Washington Bridge when it went down after 16 minutes.
The crash occurred after the pilot radioed about needing fuel, according to the tour operator’s CEO. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter spinning uncontrollably with smoke trailing before the rotor detached, causing the fuselage to plummet. Emergency responders recovered all six bodies, with two family members reportedly still alive when pulled from the water but later pronounced dead. The wreckage, including debris like a pink shoe, was retrieved from the river late Thursday night. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating, with the NTSB leading efforts to determine the cause. Dive teams continued searching for aircraft parts the following day.
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No official cause has been confirmed, but footage suggests a mechanical failure, possibly related to the rotor separation. The helicopter, leased from Meridian Helicopters in Louisiana, belonged to a company with a history of incidents, including a 2013 emergency landing in the Hudson River due to power loss. Johnson had posted a video on March 27, flying the same Bell 206 over Manhattan, expressing pride in his work. The investigation is ongoing, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy overseeing federal efforts. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the FAA or NTSB.