36-Year-Old Pilot of Helicopter That Crashed in Hudson River Identified – Wife Speaks Out

The tragic plane crash claimed the lives of six people—five family members and the pilot. After the heartbreaking loss, his grieving wife shared a glimpse into his passion for aviation, saying he "always wanted to fly."

Authorities confirmed on April 11, 2025, that the helicopter pilot was Seankese Johnson, who was widely known as Sean, as reported by multiple sources. The National Transportation Safety Board disclosed that he had amassed 788 hours of flying experience.

However, officials are still working to determine how many of those hours were spent operating the same type of aircraft involved in the crash. Sean, a Navy veteran, earned his commercial license in Utah in 2023. He flew across the country, taught others briefly, and had only recently joined New York Helicopter Charter.

Just weeks before the crash, Sean recorded a video of himself piloting the same route over the Hudson River on Facebook. The clip, taken during a routine flight, now offers a haunting glimpse into his final days in the cockpit.

The deceased was 36. After his sudden passing, his wife, Kathryn Johnson, shared the heartbreak of losing him in an interview:

"I'm just at loss for words. I don't even know what happened. It's just hard right now."

According to Kathryn, she first heard the news from one of her husband's former coworkers. Following his Navy service, Sean explored various paths — from working on a television show to protecting high-profile figures. Still, Kathryn said he "always wanted to fly."

She wasn't the only one mourning publicly. Former Navy SEAL and current writer Remi Adeleke posted a tribute on Instagram, describing the loss as "devastating."

He noted that he had recently spoken with Kathryn Johnson and expressed concern that public attention centered on the Siemens executive and his family, while the pilot’s identity remained largely overlooked.

According to Adeleke, Kathryn had asked him to share her late husband's story so that his name would not be lost or forgotten. In his tribute, Adeleke shared memories of when he first crossed paths with Sean, then a new technician with the SEAL Teams.

At the time, Adeleke held the rank of E-6 and recalled Sean's character vividly — "vibrant, humble, respectful, and hungry to learn." Their conversations often drifted to life, the military, and Sean's aspirations.

He frequently spoke of his dream to become a pilot. Adeleke would encourage him with words he still remembers, "Stay locked in. Do the work — and you'll get there." And, as Adeleke affirmed, Sean did just that.

That early impression of Sean stayed with Adeleke through the years. He described Sean as someone who rose from modest roots without allowing his circumstances to define him. Instead, they pushed him forward. Beneath his calm exterior was steady drive and a deep care for others.

Even after their time in the Navy ended, the two remained in touch — through calls, meetups, and regular messages. Sean often shared updates from pilot school, celebrating each step of his journey. Adeleke recalled:

"He was so proud, and I was proud of him."

That connection deepened over time. According to him, after years of mentorship, Sean felt more like family. Losing him felt deeply personal. He reflected on the pain of saying goodbye so young, noting:

"Parents should never bury their children. Sean wasn't my child, but after mentoring him for so long, he felt like one."

The thought of laying him to rest before his own time felt unreal. Yet even in the heartbreak, Adeleke found comfort. He remembered the faith-filled conversations they shared, including the moment Sean "gave his life to Jesus." That, he said, assured him they would meet again.

Sean's selflessness never faded. Whether during training or after earning his wings, he stayed grounded — often asking, "What can I do for you? How can I help?" That generosity, Adeleke recalled, was simply part of who Sean was.

He passed away living out the very dream he once whispered back in their SEAL Team days. Flying was more than a passion for Sean — it gave him purpose. Adeleke ended his tribute with a final message,

"Rest easy, little brother. I'll see you again. #LLTB."

The outpouring of love for Sean continued across social media. Earl Watters, one of his close friends and former co-pilot, honored him with a moving Facebook post accompanied by photos of their time together.

"With a heavy heart I post this…" Watters began, confirming that the pilot involved in the New York crash was indeed his friend and teammate from their days aboard Boomer.

He described Sean as "an all around great person and amazing friend," adding that his presence had brought a meaningful change to his life. Watters chose to remember his pal not in sorrow, but in celebration of the life he led. He penned:

"Always and forever a BOOMER crew member. Godspeed Amigo."

In the days following the tragedy, support for Sean's family has taken many forms. A GoFundMe page, launched by Tara Boethin, was created to honor his memory and help those he left behind.

Titled In Loving Memory of Sean Johnson, the page describes him as a devoted son, grandson, brother, uncle, and friend — someone who left a mark on everyone he met. His warmth, energy, and sincere kindness lifted those around him.

Flying was more than a passion for Sean — it gave him purpose.

He felt most alive in the sky, and he had a gift for encouraging others to follow their own paths. Though his life ended doing what he loved, his spirit lives on in the many hearts he touched. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to his family.

As previously reported, Sean lost his life in the same crash that claimed a family of five. Since then, witnesses have recounted what they saw and heard the moment a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, claiming the lives of various victims, including children.

A quiet afternoon in Jersey City turned into a scene of chaos and fear when a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in front of stunned witnesses.

Dani Horbiak was inside her home when she heard a rapid series of noises that sounded like "several gunshots in a row, almost, in the air."

Curious and alarmed, she rushed to her window and saw the helicopter spiraling out of control before it broke apart and plunged into the water. According to Horbiak, the aircraft splashed "in several pieces into the river," a moment that left her shaken.

Along the river in Hoboken, Lesly Camacho, a hostess working at a restaurant, also witnessed the horrifying event. She recalled how the helicopter was spinning wildly with "a bunch of smoke coming out," before it crashed violently into the water.

Mandy Bowlin, a tourist from Chattanooga, Tennessee, was aboard a Circle Line sightseeing boat when her peaceful excursion took a terrifying turn. She described hearing a sudden boom behind her and witnessing the helicopter plummeting toward the water.

One of its rotor blades detached midair, and the aircraft nosedived straight into the river. Bowlin recounted seeing debris hurtling in the direction of the boat, intensifying her fear — especially for her daughter, who was with her at the time.

"We're kind of shook [sic] up," she admitted, calling the moment deeply unsettling and frightening. Peter Park, a resident of Jersey City, had a similarly jarring experience.

At around 3:15 p.m., he heard what he dubbed "a loud bang" and looked out the window just in time to see the helicopter emitting black smoke. He then saw rotor blades, no longer attached to the aircraft, tumbling down into the river — alarmingly close to the New Jersey shoreline.

Concerned that the falling debris could injure people nearby, Park immediately texted his wife, telling her he believed he had just seen a helicopter crash.

He followed up the message by calling 911 to report what he had seen. Another witness, Dominick Cognata, gave his account of the crash during an interview with an NBC New York reporter.

"So, I just happened to be walking, and I heard, like, it sounded like an engine just dying, and I just [...] turned, I look, and I saw the helicopter, uhm, crash and splash into the water," Cognata disclosed.

Yet another witness, Bruce Wall, shared his observations of the crash with the news outlet. Wall noted how he had been walking when he suddenly saw the tragedy unfold.

"You look up in the sky, and it's just slowly falling apart, and then you see the tail go, and you just see a flip, propeller still in the sky, just slams into the ground," Wall divulged, using his hands to mimic the sequence of events.

After a journalist asked whether Wall had seen pieces of the aircraft falling into the river, he confirmed, "Yeah. I have video, yes." Following the helicopter's impact with the water, Wall spoke about the aftermath that ensued.

"The plane was turned around, sitting there, in the water, almost like it was floating, and then just a mess of people just came around, started watching, and then the police came," shared the witness.

The reporter then asked Wall how far he estimated the aircraft to be from the shoreline when it went down, and what he made of the rescue efforts that occurred afterward. Wall gave a rough estimate of about 500 feet before repeating how close the helicopter was to the pier.

Although the witness confirmed he didn't see any sign or activity of potential survivors trying to evacuate the aircraft, he highlighted the police presence after officials had been alerted of the tragedy.

"I saw activity afterwards, police rushing because I think they got news that they saw someone moving or that there was potential life-saving [sic]," he noted.

After reiterating how he saw the chopper upside down in the water, Wall disclosed, "The rotor was in the air flying while it was falling down. It wasn't attached."

Reports covering the crash paint a vivid picture of what happened on Thursday afternoon, April 10, 2025. According to the Associated Press (AP) News, the tragic incident claimed the lives of six people, including the pilot and a family of five visiting from Spain, after the aircraft broke apart midair and plunged upside-down into the Hudson River.

The victims were identified as Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal — a global manager at an energy technology firm — and their three children. The family had boarded the sightseeing helicopter earlier that day for what was meant to be a joyful tour of the Manhattan skyline.

According to photos shared by the helicopter tour company, the family appeared smiling and excited as they prepared for the flight.

The helicopter departed from a downtown heliport at around 3 p.m., and its journey lasted less than 18 minutes. Radar data showed that the aircraft first flew north along the Manhattan skyline before circling back south toward the Statue of Liberty.

Moments later, the helicopter suffered a catastrophic failure. Several videos shared online, including one posted by NBC News, captured the aircraft's crash.

Footage shows the helicopter breaking apart, with fragments spiraling through the sky before crashing near the shoreline of Jersey City, New Jersey.

New York Helicopter CEO and owner, Michael Roth, expressed deep sorrow and disbelief in the wake of the recent crash involving one of his company's aircraft. Speaking to The New York Post (The Post), Roth said he is "absolutely devastated" by the tragedy. According to the outlet, he was visibly shaken as he reflected on the fatal incident.

Roth revealed that after reviewing video footage of the crash, he was alarmed to see the main rotor blades completely detached from the helicopter during its descent. This, the CEO said, is something he had never witnessed in his three decades in the industry.

New York Helicopter has long promoted itself as a provider of safe and comfortable sightseeing experiences in New York City.

Details about the cause of the accident are still under investigation, as officials work to determine what went wrong during the brief but fatal flight.

At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to all the loved ones of Escobar, his wife, their children, and the pilot, as they mourn such significant losses. We hope for their healing amid their grief. RIP, dear Escobar and his family, and the helicopter pilot.