Three adults and three children were killed Thursday after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Manhattan, officials said.
Multiple outlets citing anonymous law enforcement sources have identified five of the victims as Agustin Escobar, an executive of Siemens, a German technology company, along with his wife and their three children aged 4, 5 and 11 years old. The sixth victim, the pilot of the chartered helicopter, has not yet been identified.
Scripps News has not yet independently verified the identities of the victims.
Divers recovered the bodies from the river shortly after the crash. Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were taken to nearby hospitals, where they later died from their injuries.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, however, a video posted online appears to show the helicopter breaking apart and inverting before crashing into the river. The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter was a Bell 206, a model commonly seen flying over the New York City skyline.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who represents New York, said he had spoken with the National Transportation Safety Board, which was en route to the scene.
"I’m praying for all those impacted and for our brave first responders on the scene," Schumer said.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, New York’s junior senator, shared similar sentiments.
"I'm grateful for our extraordinary first responders on the scene, and I’m praying for all those involved in this tragic incident," she said.
RELATED STORY | Plane carrying members of Congress has wing clipped at Reagan National Airport
Thursday's incident is the latest in a string of aircraft-related mishaps this year. Earlier in the day, an American Eagle plane clipped the wing of another American Eagle aircraft at Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. No injuries were reported.
That minor collision came just months after a deadly mid-air crash involving a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight near Washington. That crash killed 67 people.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
