A tragic helicopter crash occurred in the United States, claiming the lives of six people. The helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York City. Fire officials said they received a call around 3:17 PM about the helicopter in the water. Videos going viral on social media confirmed the chopper had completely submerged. A rescue operation is underway near Manhattan, with aircraft and helicopters circling the area. The Hudson River area has seen helicopter crashes before—such as in 2009, when a tourist helicopter collided with a plane, killing nine people.

Authorities have identified the victims of today's crash. Agustin Escobar, CEO and President of Siemens in Spain, died along with his family. His wife and three children also lost their lives in the accident. The family was seen taking a photo near the Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV helicopter, which was later posted on the New York Helicopter Tours website.Police revealed that the family had arrived in New York from Barcelona. The condition of the pilot remains unknown. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash.