NYC chopper pilot radioed minutes before crashing into Hudson River, said he was flying back for more fuel

Minutes before a chopper crashed mid-air and plunged into the Hudson River killing six, including the entire family of Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, the pilot was on his way back to the base for refuelling, the owner of the NYC helicopter tour company said. Several videos emerged on social media claiming that the pilot was making dangerous manoeuvres before the crash, though these claims are not authentic. New York Helicopter Tour CEO Michael Roth said the pilot called the base, informing them that the chopper needed more fuel. And minutes later, it came down crashing into the river.

“He [the pilot] called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive,” Roth told The Telegraph.

Roth said he learned about the tragedy from one of his workers at the company’s downtown heliport, who had heard about a crash, not knowing it was their helicopter. “Then one of my pilots flew over the Hudson and saw the helicopter upside down,” he told the outlet.

“It’s devastation,” he said. “I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated. I’m absolutely devastated.”

“The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter,” Roth said. “And I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years being in business, in the helicopter business. The only thing I could guess – I got no clue – is that it either had a bird strike or the main rotor blades failed. I have no clue. I don’t know.”

Siemens executive was celebrating the birthday of one of their children

The helicopter tour was a birthday celebration for the Escobar daily. Agustin Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal and their three kids, aged 4,5 and 11, were on the copter ride to mark the birthday of one of their children. All five of them and the pilot died.

Before their doomed expedition, Escobar, Montal and their kids were seen smiling in front of the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV helicopter in gut-wrenching photos on the New York Helicopter Tours website.