THE pilot of the doomed touring helicopter that shattered above the Hudson River has been identified as a 36-year-old Navy SEAL veteran, his heartbroken wife revealed.
Sean Johnson was giving a Spanish family of five a tour of New York City when the aircraft suddenly nosedived into the icy waters, killing all six on board.
Siemens boss Agustin Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children, aged four, five, and 11, died along with Johnson in the crash.
Johnson had just moved to New York City to pursue his dream of being a pilot weeks before tragedy struck, his family told Gothamist.
In March, he posted a now-devastating video of himself piloting a helicopter in New York City with the caption “When it all comes together,” and got an outpouring of support from his loved ones.
Johnson’s identity was revealed before the National Transportation Safety Board gave a media briefing on its investigation into the crash.
Chairman Jennifer Homendy admitted that they didn’t have much to share at this time as they waited for the bodies and wreckage to be recovered before starting their probe.
She added that they are still looking for the main rotor and the tail rotor, and urged bystanders to submit any cellphone videos of the crash.
Homendy said the board likely won’t have a probable cause for “quite some time” and added that they’re looking at the “safety history” of the helicopter’s owner.
At one point during the briefing, an outraged attendee ranted about how people in Jersey City have been living in fear of low-flying helicopters zooming through buildings.
“I’m telling you right now if something isn’t done, there’s gonna be a disaster,” he said.
What we know so far:
- The sightseeing helicopter, a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV, crashed into the Hudson River around 3.17pm on Thursday.
- Witnesses say the chopper broke apart midair before plunging into the river.
- Agustin Escobar, Global CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, was on board with his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children.
- The family had just arrived in New York from Barcelona earlier that day.
- The pilot of the chopper, whose identity has not yet been released, was also killed.
- Heartbreaking photos on the New York Helicopter Tours website show the family smiling in front of the chopper
- Authorities are still working to determine what caused the helicopter to break apart in midair – with the firm previously having accidents
- Experts have said the investigation needs to centre on the so-called ‘Jesus Nut’ that holds the rotor together
- A haunting radio call captured revealed the pilot was running low on fuel
The Spanish family had landed in New York just hours before the wreck, having flown in from Barcelona to kick off their vacation.
But tragedy struck around 3.17 pm, when the helicopter reportedly broke apart midair and plunged into the Hudson.
Four people died on impact, and the other two victims died in the hospital.
New York Helicopter Tours CEO Michael Roth, who owned the chopper, has since spoken out, telling The New York Post, “It’s devastation.
“I’m a father and a grandfather and to have children on there, I’m devastated. I’m absolutely devastated.
“This is horrific. But you gotta remember something, these are machines and they break.”
Read our Hudson River helicopter crash blog for the latest updates…