Two New York Aircraft Crashes Kill 12, Including Spanish Family and Former MIT Athlete

On Thursday, a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York City, killing all six people aboard, including a Spanish family of five and the pilot. The victims were identified as Siemens executive Agustín Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their nine-year-old daughter Mercedes. The family was visiting New York from Spain when the helicopter they were touring in broke apart mid-air and plunged into the river. The pilot, Sean Johnson, 36, also perished in the crash. Investigations are ongoing, with recovery teams working to retrieve wreckage from the riverbed, including critical components that may help determine the cause of the accident. In a separate incident on Saturday afternoon, a small plane crashed in Copake, New York, approximately 50 miles south of Albany, resulting in the deaths of all six people on board. Among the victims were members of the Groff family from Weston, Massachusetts, including Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer star and the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year. The plane, a Mitsubishi MU-2B, was en route to the Columbia County Airport when it went down in a muddy field near the Massachusetts state line. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the aircraft was preparing for a second landing attempt at the time of the crash. The cause of the accident is under investigation, with weather conditions being considered as a possible factor. These tragic incidents have raised concerns about aviation safety in the region. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading investigations into both accidents. Community members and officials have expressed their condolences to the families affected. New York City Mayor Eric Adams mourned the victims of the helicopter crash, and schools in Massachusetts are grieving the loss of prominent members of their community.