Navy SEAL Veteran Identified as Pilot in Tragic NYC Helicopter Crash That Claimed Six Lives

The pilot of the helicopter that crashed into New York’s Hudson River has been identified as Sean Johnson, a former Navy SEAL who later became a commercial pilot.

The heartbreaking accident happened around 3:17 p.m. on April 10, when the aircraft, operated by New York Helicopters, went down in the river. Sadly, all six people onboard lost their lives.

Among the victims were Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive from Barcelona, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three young children — ages 11, 5, and 4.

Sean Johnson, who had proudly served as a Navy SEAL, had transitioned into civilian life as a celebrity bodyguard before following his true passion for aviation. He moved to New York to pursue his dream of flying full-time.

According to the helicopter’s owner, 71-year-old Michael Roth, Johnson had radioed in just minutes before the crash, saying he was returning to the helipad for fuel. “It should have taken him about three minutes to arrive,” Roth told The Telegraph. “But 20 minutes later, he still hadn’t shown up.”

The tragedy has left Johnson’s family and friends shattered. His wife, Kathryn Johnson, spoke through tears:
“I’m just at a loss for words. I don’t even know what happened. It’s just hard right now.”

Earl Watters, Johnson’s close friend and former co-pilot, paid tribute on Facebook:
“The world has lost an all-around great person and amazing friend… He definitely changed my life for the better and I just want to celebrate his life and how he lived. Always and forever a BOOMER crew member. Godspeed, Amigo.”

An eyewitness named Max, who saw the crash unfold, described the terrifying scene to ABC News:
“It sounded like a sonic boom. I looked up and saw the helicopter splitting in two, with the rotor flying off. The body went straight into the water. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has now launched an official investigation to uncover what caused the deadly crash.