Two Siemens executives and their three children were the victims of the helicopter crash in New York.

WashingtonFive Catalan tourists died this Thursday in a helicopter crash in New York while flying over the Hudson River. The pilot of the aircraft, from the company New York Helicopter Tours, is the sixth victim of the accident, according to the city's mayor, Eric Adams. The tourists were Agustín Escobar, CEO of Siemens' mobility subsidiary; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal, global marketing director of Siemens Energy and granddaughter of former Barça president Agustí Montal; and their three children, ages four, five, and eleven. According to US authorities, the family had arrived in New York that week to celebrate one of the children's birthdays. However, the father had arrived a couple of days earlier for a business trip.

The helicopter, a Bell 206, had taken off Thursday from a heliport in downtown Manhattan at around 3 p.m. (9 p.m. in Catalonia) and was piloted by a 36-year-old US Army veteran. Before crashing, the aircraft flew for approximately 15 minutes, passing near the Statue of Liberty and following the New York coastline northward to the George Washington Bridge. At the time of the crash, the aircraft was heading south along the New Jersey coast and was nearing the end of its journey.

The US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the accident. Although she called a press conference for Friday afternoon to update information, the agency's director, Jennifer Homendy, admitted that authorities have not yet been able to clarify what happened that caused the aircraft to plummet into the Hudson River. "It's not even been 24 hours; it's the first day of the investigation. We have a lot of information, but we don't want to speculate on probable causes: we need time to confirm the information, and it's a long process," he summarized, adding that "everything is on the table." However, New Jersey Mayor Steven Fulop has indicated that three hypotheses are on the table: that the aircraft collided with a bird, a drone, or that it suffered a mechanical problem.

On-site investigation

The agency responsible for investigating automobile, air, and maritime accidents has deployed a total of seventeen investigators to the scene, including divers who are attempting to recover parts of the crashed helicopter, including the main rotor, main transmitter, canopy, and tail structure. The aircraft's and pilot's logs are also being checked. It has been confirmed that the man held a commercial pilot's certificate and had logged more than 700 flight hours between September of last year and this March.

Images recorded by witnesses show how the helicopter, now without its propellers, quickly plunged into the river, near the point where the Jaume Plensa sculpture is located. Water's soul"I don't know what happened to the tail, it fell off," one of the witnesses explained on NBC on Thursday. Several videos show the aircraft losing parts and disintegrating, until it finally plummeted into the river. Homendy has asked the public that anyone who has more images of the incident should send them to the authorities, even if "they think it's irrelevant."

According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, two of the helicopter's passengers were alive when they were rescued from the water, but ended up dying in the hospital. "Six innocent souls have lost their lives, and let's pray for them and their families," explained New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The executive director of New York Helicopter (the flight's sightseeing operator), Michael Roth, stated in the New York Times He didn't know what had happened to the plane, which he had rented from a Louisiana company. According to ABC, it was the vehicle's sixth consecutive day of flight. The aircraft, now at the bottom of the river, will be rescued in the coming hours by teams from the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Wave of dismay

The Escobar-Cañadas and Camprubí Montal families have issued a statement expressing "their deepest gratitude for the massive outpouring of condolences and support received" in recent hours. "We want to cherish the memory of a happy and united family, at the sweetest moment of their lives. They have passed away together, leaving an indelible mark on all their relatives, friends, and acquaintances," they wrote in the statement posted on social media. They also explained that they have moved to New York and that in the coming days they will provide details "of the farewell ceremony they deserve."

The San Ignacio Jesuit School in Barcelona, ​​​​where the three minors attended, has also expressed its "heartbreak and sorrow." "We want to express our support and esteem for their family and friends, as well as the offer of any assistance they may need," they said in a statement. Siemens, the company where the couple worked, has lamented the tragic accident in a brief statement in which it has expressed its condolences: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter accident in which Agustín Escobar and his family have lost their lives. Our sincere condolences to all their loved ones." From the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), its president, Antonio Garamendi, has also expressed his dismay in a post on X: "There is news that breaks your heart. This morning we tragically lost a great friend and his entire family," he lamented.

The American president, Donald Trump, has sent his condolences to the families of the victims in a post on Truth Social, in which he has described the accident as "horrible." "The images of the accident are shocking. May God bless the families and friends of the victims. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy and his talented team are already working hard. We will soon know exactly what happened and how it happened," the president wrote.

The government delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, assured this Friday that the government is "prepared" to carry out the repatriation of the victims as soon as the judge authorizes it. Prieto insisted that the case is "under judicial investigation in the state of New York" and that forensic analysis is now pending. "When the judge gives authorization, it will be a rapid process," he assured, regarding the repatriation of the bodies. The Socialist Party member "deeply regretted the accident" and offered his condolences to the family.

The president of the Generalitat (Catalan government), Salvador Illa, offered his condolences for the family's death and expressed his dismay at the incident: "Life is not in our hands, and it hits you hard when you least expect it," he said. Isla expressed her gratitude for the messages from the US authorities, whom she hopes will facilitate all the necessary procedures to repatriate the bodies of the victims.

Spanish President Pedro Sánchez also expressed his condolences for the "unimaginable tragedy" in a message on social media. "I share the grief of the victims' families at this difficult time," he lamented. Transport Minister Óscar Puente also expressed his dismay, describing Escobar as a "charming, hardworking, and talented" person.