Category Archives: Travel

Five Spanish tourists die in New York sightseeing helicopter crash

M. Pérez

Madrid

Friday, 11 April 2025, 07:40

Six people, five of them Spanish nationals from the same family, died early Thursday afternoon in the United States of America (well into the night in Spain) when the helicopter in which they were travelling plunged into the Hudson River in New York. The five Spanish victims were a married couple and their three children, aged between seven and eleven, who were spending a few days of leisure in the city. Rescue teams located the last body – that of the pilot – trapped in the wreckage of the aircraft, half-submerged in the river.
The Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, confirmed the death of the two adults and three Spanish children, as well as the pilot of the aircraft, who was only 21 years old. Two of the tourists were evacuated to a nearby hospital, but died shortly afterwards due to the extreme seriousness of their injuries, while the other four occupants were killed almost instantly on impact with the water, according to the commissioner of the New York Police Department, Jessica Tisch.

Adams, who expressed condolences to the families of the victims, said an official investigation into the crash has been launched by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), although he declined to give details. “Six innocent souls have lost their lives and we pray for them and their families,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

Escobar, centre, with his wife and three children, moments before the fateful flight.

New York Helicopter Tours LLC

They were executive Agustín Escobar, who was CEO of Siemens in Spain for two years and currently served as the company’s director of rail mobility; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, a director at the same company and granddaughter and great-granddaughter of presidents of FC Barcelona; and their three children, ages 4, 5, and 11. Their identities were revealed by various local media outlets, including The New York Times, citing a senior New York law enforcement official.

According to the New York Post, which published several photographs of the family before boarding the helicopter, provided by the company operating the aircraft, New York Helicopter Tours, the five arrived in New York that morning. The company offers sightseeing tours of Manhattan to admire the city’s skyline, with prices starting at $2,750 for a 30-minute ride.

Aerial tour of Manhattan

The aircraft, a Bell 26 model – which has two blades on the main rotor – relatively common on such trips, had taken off just twelve minutes earlier and was taking an aerial tour of New York on a grey and unpleasant day with clouds, rain and gusts of wind, although it did not appear that the weather could be a determining factor for the accident. Various sources claimed that this was the sixth trip the aircraft had made during the day to show different groups of tourists an aerial view of the ‘Big Apple’.

It was the aircraft’s sixth trip on a grey and unpleasant day with clouds, rain and gusts of wind, although the weather did not seem to be a determining factor.

Shortly before plunging into the river, the aircraft circled the Statue of Liberty before heading up the Hudson River towards the George Washington Bridge, according to CNN. It was while flying over Manhattan at around 3.10pm (local time) that the disaster occurred, on a part of the river near New Jersey (New York’s neighbouring city). A little more than five minutes later, emergency services began to receive the first calls from witnesses, alerting them that there had been an accident and a helicopter had fallen into the water.
Dani Horbiack, who lives nearby, said she saw the aircraft “falling from the sky” from her flat. “I heard five or six loud noises that sounded almost like gunshots in the sky and I saw pieces fall. Then I saw it go into the river,” the woman told reporters. Michael Roth, the head of the tour company that operates these flights, admitted to the media that “I have never seen anything like this in the 30 years I have been in the helicopter business”.

“It sounded like an explosion”

Another member of the public also saw the helicopter lose part of a rotor and, according to him, “break in two”, although footage of part of what happened does not make this clear: “It sounded like a sonic boom,” he said. A third witness said he saw the helicopter crash at “a 45-degree angle” into the water.

At least 32 people have died in helicopter crashes in New York since 1977, according to local press reports. The most recent one happened in 2019

Several coastguard patrol boats and rescue boats were deployed in the search area, near a jetty on the New Jersey shore. The aircraft, which was seen in images of the incident – recorded on cameras in nearby buildings – to have lost part of its blades, was left floating half-submerged on its right side.
At least 32 people have died in helicopter crashes in New York since 1977, according to local press reports. The most recent was in 2019, when an executive helicopter crashed into the roof of a Manhattan skyscraper in restricted airspace, killing the pilot. A year earlier, in 2018, five people died in another tourist helicopter crash in the nearby East River, on the opposite side of Manhattan.

Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez: “An unimaginable tragedy”.

The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, expressed his condolences on Thursday night for those who died in the helicopter crash in New York, five of them members of the same Spanish family who were spending a few days’ holiday in the city.

Lahore nominated as ECO Tourism Capital for 2027

ECO officials attend a meeting in Mashad, Iran in this image released on December 2, 2024. — Facebook@Economic-Cooperation-Organisation LAHORE:Pakistan and the Punjab province have gotten a significant global honour as Lahore was nominated as Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Tourism Capital for the year 2027. A 25-member delegation of the 10-nation Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) will…

Singapore targets Mice demand, leisure travellers in Tourism 2040 road map

[SINGAPORE] Scoring business events and drawing leisure travellers are two pillars of the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) road map for the industry through 2040, with tourism receipts having hit a record high of S$29.8 billion in 2024. Tourism receipts are expected to grow faster than international visitor arrivals, to reach S$47 billion to S$50 billion by 2040, said Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu at STB’s annual Tourism Industry Conference on Friday (Apr 11).
In 2024, the record receipts exceeded STB’s forecast of S$27.5 billion to S$29 billion, while visitor arrivals came in at the upper bound of the 16.5 million forecast.
The global environment is expected to be more challenging after US tariffs, warned Fu, with consumer confidence being adversely affected. She added: “Even as we look ahead to a pipeline of events that will invigorate our tourism landscape, we must brace ourselves for near- to medium-term volatility that will test our adaptability.”Still, STB’s forecasts for 2025 remain at S$29 billion to S$30.5 billion for tourism receipts, and 17 million to 18.5 million for arrivals. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOUFriday, 2 pmLifestyleOur picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.Singapore’s diversified portfolio of source markets will serve it well in “building resilience”, STB chief executive Melissa Ow told reporters on Friday.Travel and tourism have been among the most resilient sectors, bouncing back from global recessions, pandemics and other crises, she added.“Even as we look at the immediate year with caution and optimism, the more important thing is to keep an eye out for the long-term prospects,” she said.That is addressed in the Tourism 2040 road map. More details were shared at Friday’s event, where STB inked eight agreements with local businesses and global stakeholders.The road map’s three key pillars are: capturing demand from high-potential areas such as meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice); strengthening Singapore’s attractiveness as a leisure destination; and developing the industry.Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu at STB’s annual Tourism Industry Conference on Friday.

Tourism North Bay unveils its 2025 tourism magazine

Article contentIn celebration of National Tourism Week Tourism North Bay shared the release of the 2025 tourism magazine. The organization hoping to capitalize on the success of the initial launch in early 2024, the updated magazine includes new elements, new stories and historic images that also recognize and celebrate the city’s Centennial.  Tourism North Bay officials were so happy with last year’s version, the first in six years, they were anxious to put another magazine together in 2025.Article contentTanya Bédard, Executive Director of Tourism North Bay says, “North Bay is preparing to celebrate its official Centennial next week, it is important to reflect on the rich history and cultural heritage that have shaped the destination over the past century and it is our role at Tourism North Bay to capture the excitement and share with potential visitors.”Bedard says that the main target market remains the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).“We target the GTA for sure and domestic travel, with that being top of mind right now. There are 7.8 million people in the GTA and we feel we are well-positioned to attract and welcome these visitors.”Bedard was asked about attracting American tourists.  Is that tougher now given the trade tensions between Canada and the US?Article content“We do and have in the past partnered with larger organizations to market to the US traveler.  The US traveler in Ontario accounts for 20 percent of the travel market. Most of the tourism from that market involves snowmobiling and fishing campaigns,” says Bedard.Bedard says there’s always opportunities for increased tourism in the area if they continue market eastward.“We have been looking at the Quebec market for the last 12 to 18 months.  We did identify this (region) as a secondary audience for us. We have a large and active Francophone population in our area and different local events that cater to that market,” says Bedard.The magazine still features insider tips from local fishing anglers and powersport enthusiasts, the rich tapestry of Indigenous history and culture, must-visit attractions and events, the Royal Canadian Air Force history as well as sharing valuable insights for travelers seeking authentic experiences and memorable adventures.“We thank all of our local partners, writers and photographers who contributed to the publicationand helped to make it a spectacular showcase of our city,” says Bédard.Over the next few weeks, the updated publication will be distributed to tourist information sites across the province and locally to the accommodation providers, attractions and partners. A full digital copy is also now available at http://www.tourismnorthbay.com/resources/.Share this article in your social network

On-again, off-again tariffs and their toll on travellers

The on-again, off-again tariff policy of the Trump administration has wreaked havoc across the global economy, including the travel industry. Until April 9’s 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs, the US dollar was showing signs of weakening, hotels faced higher operating costs and travellers were nervous about booking.Even before reciprocal tariffs were imposed, The Conference Board’s latest index on consumer confidence had dropped to the lowest level in 12 years, possibly driving a chill in travel demand. And, in a survey of its members in early April, the American Society of Travel Advisers said nearly 54 per cent reported a decrease in consumer demand driven by economic concerns.For the moment, a 10 per cent baseline tariff against most countries has been left in place, with China facing a 145 per cent tariff on its goods.While it is unclear what will happen after the 90-day pause, here is a look at how tariffs, or just the threat of them, may affect the travel industry.The dollar holds, for nowEarly in the year, the dollar was close to a par with the euro. It is now about US$1.10 (S$1.46) to the euro, which means a hotel room that costs €100 (S$150) would be around US$110.“Normally, you would expect the US imposition of tariffs to be mildly positive for the US dollar,” said Dr Michael Melvin, executive director of the master of quantitative finance programme at the University of California, San Diego. “We saw effects like this in the first round of announced tariffs on Mexico and Canada, which were quickly reversed when the President announced a reversal of those tariffs,” he said. But retaliatory tariffs from other countries could neutralise the effect on the dollar, according to The Budget Lab at Yale University, a non-partisan policy research centre.Though the dollar has fallen slightly against other currencies, including the British pound and Japanese yen, foreign exchange rates are still relatively favourable for Americans abroad, especially in Canada and Mexico.More on this TopicSlowing air traffic For airlines, tariffs may increase the cost of building airplanes, but the carriers have more immediate concerns.“The problem now is economic uncertainty and the risk of a recession,” said Mr Brian Sumers, who writes the aviation newsletter Tthe Airline Observer, noting that airlines have seen slower demand since US President Donald Trump’s inauguration. “When people are worried about the future, they tend to spend less money. They don’t know how their investments will hold up, or whether they will have a job in six months, and so they hold off on planning travel and buying plane tickets.”In March, Bank of America analysts found domestic travel was off to a slow start in 2025, which they attributed to falling consumer confidence, bad weather and a late Easter.How this will play out in airfares remains to be seen, as airlines trim capacity to maintain prices. This week, Delta Air Lines said it would reduce planned capacity growth in the second half of the year.“On the whole, I expect prices will fall and we will see more empty seats,” Mr Sumers said.As lower-income households cut discretionary expenses, low-cost airlines are most vulnerable, said Mr Jonathan Kletzel, the transport and logistics leader at the business consultancy PwC. “Discounted carriers are going to be feeling this a lot more,” he said.Hotel hurdlesAs buyers of everything from sheets and furniture to electronics and wine, hotels are threatened with higher operating costs as tariffs increase the price of imports.“While hospitality businesses may absorb some of these added expenses in the short term, it’s likely that at least part of the increased cost will eventually be passed on to customers,” said Associate Professor Becky Liu-Lastres from the department of tourism, event and sports management at Indiana University Indianapolis.More on this TopicIn addition, the industry, which relies on immigrant and visa-holding workers, faces a possible labour shortage related to the administration’s strict stance on immigration, said Professor David Sherwyn, who teaches hospitality, human resources and law at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration.In the past, hotels have dangled lower rates to attract guests, but if they have limited staff to manage a full house, they may accept lower occupancy to keep rates up.Mr Jan Freitag, national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, a commercial real estate analyst firm, said hotel renovations and new construction were likely to slow as costs rise.Domestic travel gainsIn past economic downturns, Americans tended to travel closer to home and to book closer to departure, two trends that experts say may return.In a survey of 1,000 adults conducted from April 3 to 5, marketing and communications agency MMGY Global found that 83 per cent of respondents still intended to travel – down just 4 per cent since a similar survey in February – but that most intended to alter their plans.One-third planned to travel closer to home, 29 per cent said they would swop an international destination for a domestic one and 24 per cent would opt for a cheaper mode of transport.“On the very high end, I would not be surprised if they continue to travel, but middle Americans with their 401(k)s (retirement plans) shaken may say, ‘let me stay close to home’,” said Mr Freitag of CoStar.Cruising in choppy watersTravel warnings from foreign governments related to recent detentions at the US border, and travel boycotts by Canadians, who have been stung by tariffs and calls to make their country the 51st state, threaten inbound international tourism, including cruises, many of which depart from US ports for the Caribbean.“This will also have an effect on the cruise industry,” said economics professor Vinod Agarwal from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. “Canadians who want to travel to the Caribbean may not want to go through the US any more.”Cruises have more tariff protection than other travel industries because they often buy supplies such as food in foreign ports, exempting them from import fees, said Professor Gordon Ho, who teaches management and organisation at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and is a former chief marketing officer for Princess Cruises.Cruise bookings also tend to be made months or years in advance. It remains to be seen how many passengers will cancel if economic conditions worsen.“For those who search, there will be opportunities for great values in the months ahead across all the travel industry as it tries to make up for lost international tourism,” Prof Ho said.

On-again, off-again tariffs and their toll on travellers

The on-again, off-again tariff policy of the Trump administration has wreaked havoc across the global economy, including the travel industry. Until April 9’s 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs, the US dollar was showing signs of weakening, hotels faced higher operating costs and travellers were nervous about booking.Even before reciprocal tariffs were imposed, The Conference Board’s latest index on consumer confidence had dropped to the lowest level in 12 years, possibly driving a chill in travel demand. And, in a survey of its members in early April, the American Society of Travel Advisers said nearly 54 per cent reported a decrease in consumer demand driven by economic concerns.For the moment, a 10 per cent baseline tariff against most countries has been left in place, with China facing a 145 per cent tariff on its goods.While it is unclear what will happen after the 90-day pause, here is a look at how tariffs, or just the threat of them, may affect the travel industry.The dollar holds, for nowEarly in the year, the dollar was close to a par with the euro. It is now about US$1.10 (S$1.46) to the euro, which means a hotel room that costs €100 (S$150) would be around US$110.“Normally, you would expect the US imposition of tariffs to be mildly positive for the US dollar,” said Dr Michael Melvin, executive director of the master of quantitative finance programme at the University of California, San Diego. “We saw effects like this in the first round of announced tariffs on Mexico and Canada, which were quickly reversed when the President announced a reversal of those tariffs,” he said. But retaliatory tariffs from other countries could neutralise the effect on the dollar, according to The Budget Lab at Yale University, a non-partisan policy research centre.Though the dollar has fallen slightly against other currencies, including the British pound and Japanese yen, foreign exchange rates are still relatively favourable for Americans abroad, especially in Canada and Mexico.More on this TopicSlowing air traffic For airlines, tariffs may increase the cost of building airplanes, but the carriers have more immediate concerns.“The problem now is economic uncertainty and the risk of a recession,” said Mr Brian Sumers, who writes the aviation newsletter Tthe Airline Observer, noting that airlines have seen slower demand since US President Donald Trump’s inauguration. “When people are worried about the future, they tend to spend less money. They don’t know how their investments will hold up, or whether they will have a job in six months, and so they hold off on planning travel and buying plane tickets.”In March, Bank of America analysts found domestic travel was off to a slow start in 2025, which they attributed to falling consumer confidence, bad weather and a late Easter.How this will play out in airfares remains to be seen, as airlines trim capacity to maintain prices. This week, Delta Air Lines said it would reduce planned capacity growth in the second half of the year.“On the whole, I expect prices will fall and we will see more empty seats,” Mr Sumers said.As lower-income households cut discretionary expenses, low-cost airlines are most vulnerable, said Mr Jonathan Kletzel, the transport and logistics leader at the business consultancy PwC. “Discounted carriers are going to be feeling this a lot more,” he said.Hotel hurdlesAs buyers of everything from sheets and furniture to electronics and wine, hotels are threatened with higher operating costs as tariffs increase the price of imports.“While hospitality businesses may absorb some of these added expenses in the short term, it’s likely that at least part of the increased cost will eventually be passed on to customers,” said Associate Professor Becky Liu-Lastres from the department of tourism, event and sports management at Indiana University Indianapolis.More on this TopicIn addition, the industry, which relies on immigrant and visa-holding workers, faces a possible labour shortage related to the administration’s strict stance on immigration, said Professor David Sherwyn, who teaches hospitality, human resources and law at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration.In the past, hotels have dangled lower rates to attract guests, but if they have limited staff to manage a full house, they may accept lower occupancy to keep rates up.Mr Jan Freitag, national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, a commercial real estate analyst firm, said hotel renovations and new construction were likely to slow as costs rise.Domestic travel gainsIn past economic downturns, Americans tended to travel closer to home and to book closer to departure, two trends that experts say may return.In a survey of 1,000 adults conducted from April 3 to 5, marketing and communications agency MMGY Global found that 83 per cent of respondents still intended to travel – down just 4 per cent since a similar survey in February – but that most intended to alter their plans.One-third planned to travel closer to home, 29 per cent said they would swop an international destination for a domestic one and 24 per cent would opt for a cheaper mode of transport.“On the very high end, I would not be surprised if they continue to travel, but middle Americans with their 401(k)s (retirement plans) shaken may say, ‘let me stay close to home’,” said Mr Freitag of CoStar.Cruising in choppy watersTravel warnings from foreign governments related to recent detentions at the US border, and travel boycotts by Canadians, who have been stung by tariffs and calls to make their country the 51st state, threaten inbound international tourism, including cruises, many of which depart from US ports for the Caribbean.“This will also have an effect on the cruise industry,” said economics professor Vinod Agarwal from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. “Canadians who want to travel to the Caribbean may not want to go through the US any more.”Cruises have more tariff protection than other travel industries because they often buy supplies such as food in foreign ports, exempting them from import fees, said Professor Gordon Ho, who teaches management and organisation at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and is a former chief marketing officer for Princess Cruises.Cruise bookings also tend to be made months or years in advance. It remains to be seen how many passengers will cancel if economic conditions worsen.“For those who search, there will be opportunities for great values in the months ahead across all the travel industry as it tries to make up for lost international tourism,” Prof Ho said.

Portland Thorns’ Deyna Castellanos unable to join national team due to Trump travel ban fears

One of the new stars for the Portland Thorns said she is unable to leave the club to play for her home country, citing a lack of clarity around President Donald Trump’s immigration policy.Midfielder Deyna Castellanos did not travel with the Venezuela women’s national team for its April 5 and 8 matches in Panama. Castellanos said the possibility of not being able to re-enter the United States due to a potential travel ban led to the decision.“It was very sad I couldn’t go with the national team, but I think it was the right decision for me to stay and just keep training and growing here. But mainly to be able to stay and keep playing here in the U.S.,” Castellanos told reporters Wednesday.According to a report from the New York Times, the Trump administration is drafting a sweeping travel ban to the U.S. that could target 43 countries.Among the nations on that list, 11 would be considered “red” and their citizens would be fully barred from entering the U.S. That includes Venezuela.“The uncertainty of like, yeah, I can go home, but not knowing if I can come back is something that is very scary,” Castellanos said. “Not just for me but players across the league.”Four Zambian players chose to stay in the U.S. with their NWSL clubs, rather than join their national team on a trip to China this month. The Football Association of Zambia cited “recently introduced measures” in the decision but expects those players to be available to play in the future.“I’ve worked in professional sports for decades, and I think there’s many times in our history where the professional sports leagues, depending on what policy discussions are going on, use that as an opportunity to convene and educate about how decisions that are being made impact our business,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman told ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf. “That’s what we’ll continue to do in order to be prepared and ensure that we’re set up to support our athletes and our business.”– Ryan Clarke covers college sports for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.

Barcelona plans huge 6,200smq space as locals are fed up with disruptive tourists

Tourists throng the small stretch of pavement outside the Sagrada Familia, each eager to capture the perfect selfie. They crowd the pavement in front of the famous Gaudí-designed basilica, occasionally stepping onto the road for a better angle. However, this influx of visitors, all chasing an Instagram-worthy shot, often disrupts the daily lives of residents.For over a decade, locals have voiced their frustrations with the large crowds that obstruct pedestrian movement and cause traffic congestion around the site. In response, Barcelona city authorities have unveiled plans to address this issue and better manage the influx of tourists. As one of Spain’s most popular destinations, the Sagrada Familia is central to Barcelona’s tourism. To alleviate the overcrowding around the religious site, the city council has announced plans to create a designated area where visitors can pause and take selfies before entering the basilica.This dedicated space will help reduce pedestrian and traffic congestion, giving locals more room to navigate the area.The planned area will cover 6,200 square meters and will be located between the Nativity façade of the basilica and Plaça Gaudí, on Carrer de la Marina. The initiative aims to reconcile the needs of the millions of visitors with those of the surrounding neighborhood.Plaça Gaudí, the square near the basilica, has faced its own set of challenges with tourism. Recently, it became a popular spot for a TikTok trend where tourists would film themselves on metro escalators with the Sagrada Familia in the background. This practice clogged station exits and led to the eventual banning of the trend due to the disruption it caused.“The new project helps resolve the conflict between the use of the space by visitors to the temple and the neighborhood,” the Barcelona city council said in a press release.The construction of the gathering zone is set to begin after the summer and is expected to be completed by April 2026, in time for the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death. The €2.7 million (£2.3 million) project is part of a broader €15.5 million (£13.4 million) initiative aimed at improving infrastructure and visitor management around the Sagrada Familia.The basilica, which attracts 4.7 million visitors annually, is the second most-visited site in Spain, just behind the Alhambra in Granada. With Barcelona itself receiving 32 million tourists per year, managing this influx has become a pressing issue for the city.In recent years, Barcelona has implemented various strategies to tackle overtourism. In 2024, the city launched a €44 million (£38 million) plan to regulate crowds at 16 major tourist hotspots by increasing the presence of cleaners and police officers to maintain order and safety.Additionally, Barcelona made headlines last year by rebranding its tourism slogan, moving away from “Visit Barcelona” (used for 15 years) to the new “This is Barcelona.” The rebranding reflects the city’s efforts to shift away from mass tourism and emphasise a more sustainable approach.As part of its long-term goals, Barcelona has pledged to eliminate short-term apartment rentals for tourists by 2028 and limit the number of cruise ships disembarking in the city.Speaking about these initiatives, the city’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, emphasised the importance of tourism serving the needs of the city rather than overtaking it. “Tourism needs to be serving the city’s model, not the opposite,” he said.

Tourist helicopter crashes in Hudson River in New York City, all 6 on board killed

A tourist helicopter carrying family members from Spain plunged into the Hudson River in New York City, killing six, including three children.The New York Helicopters chartered chopper, which was carrying a pilot, two adults and three children, fell into the Hudson River by Lower Manhattan in New York City on Thursday afternoon, officials said during a press briefing.Agustin Escobar, an executive from European automation company Siemens, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their children — aged 4, 5 and 11 years old — were killed in the crash along with the pilot, aged 36, law enforcement sources told ABC News.The crash occurred at 3:17 p.m. off the coast of River Drive in Hoboken, New Jersey, just over 15 minutes after it departed from the Wall St. Heliport. The helicopter reached the George Washington Bridge before turning south and crashing, officials said during the briefing.The five-person family was from Barcelona, Spain, two Spanish officials told ABC News on Thursday.”Our hearts go out to the family and those on board,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said during the briefing.In this screen grab from a video, a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River on April 10, 2025, in New York.AvirbhawRakesh via X First responders walk along Pier 40, on April 10, 2025, in New York, across from where a helicopter went down in the Hudson River in Jersey City, N.J.Jennifer Peltz/APVideo from the crash showed the chopper plunging into the water without a tail rotor or a main rotor blade. Officials said it hit the water inverted.The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.Jersey City Medical Center, where the passengers were transported after the crash, tried as hard as they could, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop told ABC News.President Donald Trump took to his social media platform on Thursday evening, calling the crash “terrible” and saying that the footage of the accident is “horrendous.”Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a post to X that the news was “devastating.” He added, “Five Spaniards from the same family, three of them children, and the pilot have lost their lives. An unimaginable tragedy.”Dani Horbiak told ABC News she watched the helicopter “fall out of the sky” from her apartment window.”I heard five or six loud noises that sounded almost like gunshots in the sky and saw pieces fall off, then watched it fall into the river,” she said.Rescue workers and emergency personnel work at the scene of a helicopter crash on the Hudson River near lower Manhattan in New York, April 10, 2025.Eduardo Munoz/ReutersThis October, 2022, file photo shows the helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River on April 10, 2025, in New York.Maximilian Ruehmer-Junghardt”I was walking by and the helicopter went down at a 45-degree angle,” Eric Campoverde told ABC News. “Big splash — it was very scary.””It sounded like a sonic boom,” a witness told New York ABC station WABC. He said he saw the “helicopter splitting in two with the rotor flying off.”In this screen grab from a video, first responders rush to the scene of a helicopter crash in the Hudson River on April 10, 2025, in New York.WABCAnother witness told WABC, “One propeller broke into pieces.”The chopper — identified by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Bell 206 helicopter — was on its sixth flight of the day. It was found upside-down in the 50-degree water when rescuers arrived at the scene, which was closer to the New Jersey side of the Hudson River, according to sources.The Jersey City Police Department is taking the lead on the investigation since the helicopter crashed on the Jersey City side of the river, Fulop told WABC on Thursday.Fulop said the city has had concerns about the air traffic over the Hudson before and is hoping this brings more attention to their safety concerns.ABC News’ Leah Sarnoff and Erin Murtha contributed to this report.

Canadians on their travel plans: Done with Disney, no to New York

Save for laterReaders of this newsletter have been sharing their stories about cancelled trips to the United States.The conversation about boycotting U.S. travel began with a newsletter a few weeks ago that included a reader’s letter to a dozen state tourism offices. “Dear American friends” he wrote. “In light of your administration’s unilateral abandonment of its negotiated free trade agreement with Canada, we are reluctantly cancelling all future visits to the wonderful U.S. cultural, commercial and open spaces that we regularly used to enjoy so much.”The letter prompted newsletter readers to contribute their own stories of cancelled travel plans. Numbers documenting the decline in travel by Canadians to the U.S. are piling up. Now for some specific stories:“Just to let you know my wife and I have cancelled a planned fall road trip to New Mexico. I have e-mailed the tourism department of New Mexico to advise them. And I also invited them to apply to join Canada. I’ll let you know if they respond.”“We cancelled our plans to take the grandchildren to Disney due to political situation in the U.S.”“My husband and I booked a cruise one year ago, sailing from Seattle to Alaska the end of May. We have now made the painful decision to cancel the trip and forfeit a large sum of money, all in U.S. funds. We would feel like hypocrites to do anything but cancel.”“We were thinking of a day trip [to the U.S.] and also another later in the year. With what’s been happening, these trips are completely off the table. We will vacation other places for the next several years.”“Just writing to say we cancelled the March Break trip to New York City because of the cruelty from the Trump administration toward the people of Canada.”Next, I’d like to hear where people are going instead of the United States. Send me your thoughts at rcarrick@globeandmail.com.Subscribe to Carrick on MoneyAre you reading this newsletter on the web or did someone forward the e-mail version to you? If so, you can sign up for Carrick on Money here.Rob’s personal finance reading listContext for the carnageGood info here on past stock market corrections and how the recent market pullback ranks. The takeaway here is that stocks fall hard from time to time. That’s investing.This is going to cost usA smart piece looking at how the federal election campaign has yet to address the state of the federal government’s finances. Fighting a trade war has its costs – how will they affect the deficit? Meantime, a consensus is emerging that we need to spend more on defence. That’s another strain on government finances. At some point, spending cuts are coming.The 411 on NSF feesA review of the excessive non-sufficient funds fee that banks charge when there isn’t enough money in your account to cover a debit. Starting next March, the federal government will cap NSF fees at $10. For now, they can be much higher.From our readersAsk RobQuestionI recently ran out of paper cheques. I only used them for rent, but the landlord is now allowing e-transfers. Do I need to get new cheques? They are ridiculously expensive.AnswerNegative. Cheques are still around, but they’re a non-essential player in our payments system. E-transfers all the way.Do you have a question for me? Send it my way. Sorry I can’t answer every one personally. Questions and answers are edited for length and clarity.Tools and guidesA financial survival guide for seniors from the Canadian Association of Retired PeopleIn the social sphereMore PF from The GlobeWhere are your tax slips? Why so much information is missing from CRA accounts this yearWhat tax changes are being proposed on the campaign trail? The hidden risk that LinkedIn and other professional networking sites pose to your retirement