Who was Agustín Escobar, the Siemens CEO who died in the Hudson River helicopter crash?

A sightseeing flight over New York City ended in tragedy on Thursday when a helicopter broke apart midair and plunged upside-down into the Hudson River, killing the pilot and a Spanish family of five, including senior Siemens executive Agustín Escobar.

Among the victims were Escobar’s wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, a global manager at an energy technology company, and their three young children, aged 4, 5, and 11. The pilot, who has not yet been named, also died in the crash.


Images posted on the helicopter company’s website captured the family smiling as they boarded the aircraft—just moments before takeoff.

A 15-Minute Flight Turned Fatal

The Bell 206 helicopter, operated by New York Helicopter Tours, departed from Wall Street Heliport around 3 p.m. on Thursday. The aircraft followed a typical sightseeing route—north along Manhattan’s skyline before turning south toward the Statue of Liberty. Less than 18 minutes later, it crashed into the Hudson River near Pier 40 in Manhattan.

Radar data and eyewitness accounts suggest the helicopter experienced a catastrophic malfunction mid-flight. A rotor component reportedly detached, sending the aircraft spinning before it slammed into the water near the Jersey City shoreline.

Video footage showed debris tumbling from the sky, while witnesses described the harrowing moment the helicopter struck the river and overturned. Emergency responders arrived swiftly but found the aircraft submerged and all passengers deceased.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Remembering Agustín Escobar

Escobar, 55, was a globally respected executive who, since 2022, served as CEO of Siemens Spain and Global CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility. The division leads major rail and transport technology initiatives around the world.

With more than 25 years of experience managing operations across the U.S., Germany, South America, and Spain, Escobar was recognized as a visionary leader in the transport sector. Based in Barcelona, he and his family had arrived in New York just hours before their fatal flight.

Former Siemens Spain chief Miguel ?ngel López described Escobar as “the best possible successor” to lead the company. “In recent years, his work has been key to Siemens’ achievements in the mobility sector,” López told ABC News.

Escobar’s sudden passing has sent shockwaves through the global Siemens community, where he was known for his leadership and innovation.

The tragedy has drawn widespread sympathy. New York Mayor Eric Adams and former U.S. President Donald Trump both expressed condolences to the victims' families, with Trump noting the magnitude of the loss.

As investigators continue to search for answers, the accident stands as another somber reminder of the risks involved in aerial tourism—and the irreplaceable loss left in its wake.