Three adults and three children died after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York City on Thursday, officials said.

The victims included Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and three children, in addition to the pilot, a person briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press. The person could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Photos posted on the helicopter company’s website showed the couple and their children smiling as they boarded just before the flight took off.

The crash happened around 3:15 p.m., according to fire officials.

At a news briefing, Mayor Eric Adams said the victims were the pilot and a family that was visiting from Spain.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said police pulled four people out of the water, and the FDNY recovered two others. Four victims were pronounced dead on scene, and two died after being transported to area hospitals, Tisch said.

The FDNY said the incident happened in the water near West Houston Street and West Street, near the Holland Tunnel and Pier 40.

The helicopter, flying for the tour company New York Helicopters, took off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport at 2:59 p.m., Tisch said. The aircraft flew south before turning to fly north along the Manhattan shoreline up the Hudson River, according to Tisch.

Tisch said the helicopter reached the George Washington Bridge at 3:08 p.m., then turned to fly south along the New Jersey shoreline. Shortly after, the aircraft lost control and hit the water, just a few feet off of the coast of Pier A Park in Hoboken, New Jersey. 

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the helicopter as a Bell 206. The cause is still under investigation, officials said.

Videos posted on social media showed the aircraft mostly submerged, upside down in the water. Multiple rescue boats were seen on video circling the aircraft.

The skies were overcast at the time, but visibility over the river was not substantially impaired. Rescue crews had to deal with 45-degree water temperatures.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board planned to investigate. Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles were on streets near the scene with their lights flashing.

“Again we’re praying for the families, and our gratitude to the rescuers and the courage that was displayed and their dedication," the mayor said at the briefing.

In a statement, the company Skyports confirmed it was one of the firms that manages the heliport.

"We are deeply saddened by the tragedy on the Hudson River earlier today involving New York Helicopter, a company who operates out of our facility. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of all those impacted by this horrible incident," a Skyports sokesperson wrote. "We are cooperating with all of the appropriate agencies and thank all of the first responders for their efforts."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote in a post on X that her teams have offered assistance to the NYPD and FDNY in their recovery efforts.

"I join all New Yorkers in praying for those we've lost and their families," she wrote.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has also offered support.

"I have been briefed by law enforcement on the tragic helicopter crash in the Hudson River close to New Jersey," he wrote in a statement. "We are supporting the emergency response effort through the New Jersey State Police, Port Authority, and local first responders."

The skies over Manhattan are routinely filled with both planes and helicopters, both private recreational aircraft and commercial and tourist flights. Manhattan has several helipads that whisk business executives and others to destinations throughout the metropolitan area.

At least 38 people have died in helicopter accidents in New York City since 1977. A collision between a plane and a tourist helicopter over the Hudson in 2009 killed nine people, and five died in 2018 when a charter helicopter offering “open door” flights went down into the East River.