Federal authorities are investigating two separate aircraft accidents that occurred in New York over a three-day span, leaving a total of 12 people dead. The New York crashes include a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on April 10, followed by a small plane crash in upstate New York on April 12.

New York Crashes Under Investigation 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading both investigations, which have raised serious questions about aviation safety and oversight.

Sightseeing Helicopter Crashes into Hudson River

A Bell 206 helicopter operated by New York Helicopter plummeted into the Hudson River shortly after 3:15 p.m. ET on April 10.

The helicopter, carrying a Spanish family of five and a pilot, was on an aerial tour of New York City when it crashed upside down into the water. All six people onboard died, including:

• Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive
• His wife, Merce Camprubi Montal
• Their three children
• The pilot, Sean Johnson

Following the crash, the FAA announced that New York Helicopter Charter voluntarily grounded its fleet.

The agency also issued an emergency order to suspend the company’s operations, citing the firing of the director of operations and the launch of a comprehensive review through the Certificate Holder Evaluation Program.

👉 Read the full FAA statement
👉 Coverage by USA Today

Small Plane Crash in Copake Kills Six

Just two days later, tragedy struck again when a Mitsubishi MU-2B twin-engine aircraft crashed into a field near Copake, New York, around 12:15 p.m. local time on April 12.

The aircraft was en-route to Columbia County Airport when it went down near Two Town Road, about 20 miles southeast of the airport.

The NTSB confirmed that all six occupants died at the scene. The victims, as identified by the New York Times and the Associated Press, were:

• Karenna Groff
  
• Dr. Michael Groff (her father)
  
• Dr. Joy Saini (her mother)
  
• Jared Groff (her brother)
  
• Alexia Couyutas Duarte (Jared’s partner)
  
• James Santoro (Karenna’s boyfriend)

The group was reportedly traveling to celebrate a birthday and the Passover holiday.

👉 Full story via USA Today
👉 More from The New York Times
👉 Local news coverage

Ongoing Investigations and Safety Concerns
Video footage obtained by federal authorities showed the small plane descending rapidly before impact, though it remained intact before crashing.

NTSB official Todd Inman emphasized the need to uncover not only what happened but why:

“Our mission is to understand not just what happened, but why it happened, and to provide recommendations for it not to happen again.”

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has also launched its investigation. Officials request that anyone with video or information contact the NTSB at [email protected].

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Public Scrutiny on Aviation Safety

These two tragic incidents, occurring just days apart, have renewed scrutiny to aviation regulations and charter flight oversight in the U.S. The FAA is now under pressure to ensure better compliance with safety protocols, particularly for sightseeing flights and small charter operators.

Follow for Updates:

• New York Helicopter Facebook Page
• FAA NewsroomAs investigations continue, officials urge the public to stay informed and report any helpful footage or tips that may assist in determining the causes of these heartbreaking New York crashes.