Three adults and three children died when the helicopter broke apart mid-air and crashed in the Hudson River. Germany's Siemens said a company executive was killed in the crash along with his family.

New York City authorities said six people died after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday.

"All six victims have been removed from the water. And sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased," New York Mayor Eric Adams told a briefing, adding that there were three adults and three children on board.

The victims include the helicopter's pilot and a family of tourists from Spain, Adams told the press conference.

On Friday, Germany's Siemens said Agustin Escobar, the company's global CEO for its rail infrastructure division, was killed in the crash along with his family.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Agustin Escobar and his family. Our deepest condolences go out to all of his relatives," Siemens said.

The helicopter had taken off at 2:59 pm local time (6:59 pm UTC) before crashing about 20 minutes later.

Officials and witnesses said the aircraft's propeller and tail had come off in midair before hitting the water upside down.

Four of the deceased were pronounced dead at the scene after police and fire department divers had pulled them out of the water. Two others died in hospital shortly after.

The Hudson River is a busy shipping channel that lies west of Manhattan and it was also the scene of a dramatic event in 2009 dubbed the "Miracle on the Hudson," when a US Airways jet safely landed in the water, with all 155 people on board escaping safely.

US broadcaster CBS reported the helicopter had been a tourist charter flight, which had flown over Governor's Island and then near the Statue of Liberty.

Marine emergency responders attended the scene, with water temperatures around 45 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius).

The weather conditions in the area were overcast skies, with visibility over the river not substantially impaired.

The US Federal Aviation Administration identified the helicopter as a Bell 206, which is commonly used in commercial and government aviation.

Accident is third high profile crash this year

Manhattan's skies are regularly filled with both private and commercial aircraft, and there have been several crashes over the years.
 
In 2009, nine people died when a plane and a tourist helicopter collided over the Hudson. In 2018, a charter helicopter crashed into the East River on the other side of Manhattan, killing five.

Thursday's incident is the latest in a series of recent high profile air crashes in the US.

In January, seven people died when a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia.

That crash took place two days after all 64 passengers and crew aboard an American Airlines jet and three Army helicopter crew were killed in a collision near Washington DC's Ronald Reagan National Airport, the worst air disaster in the US for years.

In a separate incident at Reagan airport on Thursday, two passenger planes clipped wings in a minor ground collision.

Six members of Congress were reportedly on board one of the flights. No injuries have been reported.