NYC deadly helicopter crash: Child died a day before their birthday
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Editor's note: The video aired in a previous newscast.
NEW YORK (PIX11) – One of the kids aboard the fatal helicopter crash that plunged into the Hudson River on Thursday was pronounced dead a day before their birthday, officials said.
A family of five visiting New York City from Spain was having a birthday celebration when a Bell 206 helicopter broke apart and crashed.
The passengers were identified as Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39, and their three children: Victor, 4, Mercedes, 8, and Agustin, 10. Mercedes was set to turn nine on Friday.
The 36-year-old pilot, Seankese Johnson, a U.S. Navy veteran, also lost his life in the tragedy.
The company's owner, Michael Roth, to the New York Post, was devastated and had "no clue" what happened.
"The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren't on the helicopter," the Post quoted him as saying. He added that he had not seen anything like this during his 30 years in the helicopter business, but noted: "These are machines, and they break."
The NTSB and NYPD divers are using sonar to locate key parts of the helicopter; an investigation is ongoing.
The helicopter that crashed had completed multiple tours before the accident. Officials remarked that the company is a very busy operator, which could raise questions about maintenance.
This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.