The grieving brother of the woman killed alongside her family in a devastating helicopter tragedy has traveled to NYC to pay his respects to the crash site and identify the bodies of his loved ones. 

Joan Camprubí Montal flew from Spain to NYC where his sister, Mercè Camprubí Montal, and her family, including her husband and three children, were killed in a devastating crash on Thursday. 

At a news conference on Saturday, Camprubí Montal briefly shared his appreciation for the support his family received following the tragedy. 

Through a wavering voice he spoke the names of all five family members – Agustín Escobar, Mercè Camprubí Montal, Victor, Mercedes and Augustine – before continuing in his native Spanish. 

‘We will never forget you. We will keep your smile alive every day of our lives, and I believe that’s the best legacy we can give you,’ he said. 

‘This is a really difficult situation, but we are overwhelmed by the massive condolences we’ve received.

‘They left together. They left without suffering, and they left with a smile on their faces, and that is important for us.

‘As a family we want to honor their happiness and their smile forever… we want to move the bodies, as soon as possible, back home with all the family to rest in peace together.

Joan Camprubí Montal flew in from Spain to NYC where his sister, Mercè Camprubí Montal, and her family, including her three children, were killed in a devastating crash on Thursday

‘They left together. They left without suffering, and they left with a smile on their faces, and that is important for us,’ Joan Camprubí Montal said. ‘As a family we want to honor their happiness and their smile forever… we want to move the bodies, as soon as possible, back home with all the family to rest in peace together’

The family-of-five had been visiting New York City to celebrate one of their birthdays. They had only arrived in the city the day they took the doomed helicopter tour, which crashed into the Hudson River just 16 minutes into flight

‘We will never forget you. We will keep your smile alive every day of our lives, and I believe that’s the best legacy we can give you.’

In a tear-jerking moment, Camprubí Montal threw flowers into the Hudson River where his sister and her family perished, NBC News reported. 

Mayor Eric Adams also lay flowers at the site for the pilot of the helicopter, Sean Johnson, 36, who was also killed that day. 

‘We mourn the lives of Agustín, Mercè and their three beautiful children, Victor, Mercedes and Augustine. Our hearts our broken,’ Adams said. 

He added that the flower-laying by the Hudson was a ‘symbolic gesture for the loss of life.’ 

‘You have 8.5 million New Yorkers who want to say to the family members and to the wider Spanish community that we are here with you,’ Adams said at the news conference. 

‘And this symbolic gesture is our way of knowing and acknowledging that our words cannot bring back their family members, but it is our way of saying as New Yorkers, we stand united with this family during this moment of grief, and their grief is our grief.’ 

Camprubí Montal’s visit comes after the family of the victims issued a statement, signed by 19 members of the Escobar and Camprubí Montal families. 

‘We will never forget you. We will keep your smile alive every day of our lives, and I believe that’s the best legacy we can give you,’ Joan Camprubí Montal said

Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive from Spain, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal and their three children, aged four, eight and 11, took photos just before the crash

Mayor Eric Adams also lay flowers at the site for the pilot of the helicopter, Sean Johnson, 36, who was also killed that day. ‘We mourn the lives of Agustín, Mercè and their three beautiful children, Victor, Mercedes and Augustine. Our hearts our broken,’ Adams said

It read: ‘Grateful for your support that keeps us strong.

‘The Escobar-Camprubís will always be among us, with their joy and vitality. We love you family.’

The letter was posted alongside a photo of the family in Times Square read: ‘There are no words to describe what we are experiencing, nor to thank you for the warmth received.

‘These are very difficult times, but optimism and joy have always characterized our family. We want to preserve the memory of a happy and united family, in the sweetest moment of their lives.’

It said they had found solace in the knowledge that the young family ‘passed away together.’

‘They have gone away together, leaving an indelible mark among all their family, friends and acquaintances.’

‘In the coming days we will send you the details of the farewell ceremony they deserve, but in the meantime, we ask for the utmost respect for their privacy, given the global impact of this tragedy and the involvement of the three minors.’

‘Your support keeps us strong, and the Escobar-Camprubí will always be with us and in our hearts. Escobar Cañadas Family: Agustín, Josefina, María José, Jose, Jose, Irene and Jorge. Camprubi Montal Family: Joan, Merche, Joan, Cristina, Berta, Albert, Jan, Bru, Berta, Teo, Alex and Anna.’

The chopper was seen crashing into the murky waters of the Hudson River, closer to the New Jersey side, at around 3.15pm

The young children sat on board the chopper, one with a thumbs up like their dad who was sat opposite, while Escobar’s wife laughed next to their youngest child. Another of their children was seen strapped in front of the helicopter next to the pilot, smiling in another picture

The family-of-five had been visiting New York City to celebrate one of their birthdays. They had only arrived in the city the day they took the doomed helicopter tour, which crashed into the Hudson River just 16 minutes into flight.

The chopper was seen crashing into the murky waters of the Hudson River, closer to the New Jersey side, at around 3.15pm.

One man described the sound from the aircraft like a ‘sonic boom.’

Heartbreaking photos showed the family grinning from ear to ear as they prepared to board the chopper and tour the city skies.

The young children sat on board the chopper, one with a thumbs up like their dad who was sat opposite, while Escobar’s wife laughed next to their youngest child.

Another of their children was seen strapped in front of the helicopter next to the pilot, smiling in another picture.

Michael Roth, 71, who owns New York Helicopter which provided the tour and the chopper, said the aircraft was running out of fuel before it crashed.

‘He [the pilot] called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive,’ Roth told The Telegraph.

Devastating photos show debris from the helicopter tour floating in the Hudson River including a girl’s shoe

Michael Roth, 71, who owns New York Helicopter which provided the tour and the chopper, said the aircraft was running out of fuel before it crashed. ‘I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years being in business, in the helicopter business,’ Roth said

‘You have 8.5 million New Yorkers who want to say to the family members and to the wider Spanish community that we are here with you,’ Adams said at the news conference

 Roth said he was devastated by the crash and agreed with other experts that the video appears to show the main rotor blades had broken off.

‘The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren’t on the helicopter,’ he told the New York Post.

‘And I haven’t seen anything like that in my 30 years being in business, in the helicopter business. The only thing I could guess – I got no clue – is that it either had a bird strike or the main rotor blades failed. I have no clue. I don’t know.’

Four people were pronounced dead at the scene, and two others later passed away in hospital, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

While skies were clear at the time, footage showed the helicopter flying ‘erratically’ just before it fell into the water.

Flying on board were the tourist family of five as well as the pilot of the chopper.

Emergency responders were seen late Thursday night pulling the remnants of the destroyed helicopter from the murky water of the Hudson River. Photos showed a crane pulling mangled clumps of metal out of the river.

Rashmi Kamkeri, a 30-year-old engineer, was working remotely from her apartment in Newport Park when she heard a deafening crash about 3:19 p.m. on Thursday.

While skies were clear at the time, footage showed the helicopter flying ‘erratically’ just before it fell into the water

Emergency responders were seen late Thursday night pulling the remnants of the destroyed helicopter from the murky water of the Hudson River

 ‘It was horrifying,’ Kamkeri told DailyMail.com. ‘I thought it was thunder and ten seconds later I saw the helicopter 10 feet above the water falling and then it made a big splash and went underneath the water.

‘I panicked… then saw a piece of the helicopter fall into the water. The Waterway boat was moving and then it took a turn.

‘I was almost in tears praying that someone would come and save them. I wished there would be someone who survives. I am so sad.’

Escobar worked for the tech company Siemens for more than 27 years, most recently as global CEO for rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, according to his LinkedIn account. In late 2022 he briefly became president and CEO of Siemens Spain.

‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar and his family lost their lives. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all their loved ones,’ Siemens said in a statement early Friday. 

Spanish regional government officials said the family resided in Barcelona.

‘(I am) dismayed by the tragic helicopter accident in the Hudson River in New York which cost the lives of six people, five of which were members of a Barcelona family,’ Catalan regional president Salvador Illa wrote on X.

Another regional official said Agustin Escobar was originally from Puertollano, a town in central Spain.

 ‘I want to express my sorrow for the traffic helicopter accident in New York that claimed the lives of Agustín Escobar and his family,’ Castilla La Mancha regional president Emiliano García-Page wrote on X.

‘Agustín is native of Puertollano and in 2023 we named him a Favorite Son of Castilla La Mancha.’

At least 32 have been killed in helicopter crashes in New York City since 1977.

The most recent helicopter crash happened in 2018 when a chopper crashed into the East River, leaving five passengers dead.