Multiple people have been ruled deceased following a tragic helicopter crash!

According to ABC News, a helicopter carried a family of five tourists from Spain when the helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday (April 10). Sources state that the crash was reported just before 3:30 PM claiming the lives of three young children, their two parents, and a pilot.

An active investigation, including a wreckage exam, is underway to determine the cause of the accident. The helicopter’s engine and other components have already been pulled off the wreckage, stated National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy at a news conference Friday (April 11th).

On Friday divers actively worked to recover additional pieces of the helicopter, including the main rotor, the main transmission, the roof structure, and the tail structure. Homendy encourages the public to continue sending videos and pictures of the incident to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Officials confirm that the family on board was Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, 39, and their children, ages 4, 8 and 10. 36-year-old pilot. The The family is said to traveled to New York City to join Escobar, for a business trip.

Seankese “Sam” Johnson was also killed in the tragic helicopter crash. He is said to have accumulated over 750 hours of total flight time.”The man was an amazing pilot,” said Seankese’s friend from the Navy Matt Klier to New York ABC station WABC. “That’s all he wanted to do.”

Multiple videos shared online seemingly show pieces of the helicopter falling into the water from various angles, closer to the Jersey City area. As crews arrived to provide immediate assistance, the helicopter is said to have been turned on its side in the water.

It has been indicated that the helicopter took off from the downtown Manhattan Heliport at 2:59 PM and went off radar around 3:25 PM.

Officials identified the chopper as a Bell 206 helicopter, that was on it’s sixth flight of the day.

“I watched it fall out of the sky! I heard five or six loud noises that sounded almost like gunshots in the sky and saw pieces fall off, then watched it fall into the river,” recalled a witness identified as Dani Horbiak.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed to reporters that four victims were pronounced dead at the scene and the other two victims later succumbed to their injuries.

We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and their families.

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