Local News
Pilot in Hudson River Helicopter Crash Identified as Navy SEAL Veteran Sean Johnson, Wife Confirmed
Authorities have identified the pilot involved in Thursday’s devastating Hudson River helicopter crash as 36-year-old Sean Johnson, a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran who had recently relocated to New York City to advance his aviation career.
Johnson was piloting a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV when it tragically went down near Jersey City, killing him and all five passengers—a family visiting from Spain.
According to his family, Johnson had proudly shared his passion for flying.
On March 27, just two weeks before the crash, he posted a video of himself flying over Lower Manhattan in the same model helicopter.
The post received congratulations from colleagues and friends, celebrating his progress in the aviation industry.
Prior to flying in New York, Johnson had also worked as a pilot in Chicago.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:15 p.m. after Johnson radioed in to report a fuel shortage while returning to refuel.
Moments later, the helicopter reportedly experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure, with its main rotor blades detaching mid-flight.
The fuselage then plummeted upside down into the Hudson River, creating a massive splash near Pier 40.
Witnesses described hearing a loud “boom” as the chopper crashed.
The passengers—Agustín Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three young children—had just arrived in New York City from Barcelona to celebrate the birthday of their daughter, Mercè, who would have turned nine that day.
The children were identified as Agustín Jr., 10, Mercè, 8, and Víctor, 4.
The family had embarked on a sightseeing tour around Manhattan that included views of the Statue of Liberty before the helicopter malfunctioned.
Escobar was the global CEO of rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, while Camprubí Montal worked as a global commercialization manager at Siemens Energy. She was also the granddaughter of Agustí Montal Costa, a former president of FC Barcelona.
The helicopter went down just 16 minutes after takeoff. Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and two others died later at the hospital.
Harrowing video footage captured the rotor-less aircraft falling into the river.
The wreckage was later recovered as emergency dive operations extended into Friday.
Johnson’s wife, Kathryn Johnson, expressed her devastation in an interview, saying she was notified of the tragedy by one of her husband’s former colleagues.
“I’m just at a loss for words. I don’t even know what happened. It’s just hard right now,” she said. Though they had been separated for a few months, she said they remained close and had spoken just the day before the crash.
Kathryn shared that her husband had served as a SEAL and gunner’s mate in the U.S. Navy, repairing equipment and supporting missions before pursuing a diverse career that included working on television sets and as a celebrity bodyguard. Despite these varied roles, aviation remained his true passion.
Tributes from Johnson’s friends, former colleagues, and fellow service members poured in on social media.
One friend wrote, “I saw your posts all the time about how much you wanted to be a pilot and how hard you worked to get there. RIP Sean Johnson, another shipmate gone too soon.”
New York Helicopter Tours CEO Michael Roth also expressed his heartbreak over the tragedy. “I’m a father and grandfather—having children onboard makes this even more devastating,” Roth said. He speculated that the crash might have been caused by either a bird strike or a catastrophic rotor failure, but emphasized that he was still unsure of the exact cause.
“These are machines, and they break. It’s horrific,” he added.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are currently investigating the crash to determine the precise cause of the incident.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.