Grieving kin of the household killed within the Hudson River helicopter crash say they’re taking solace in the truth that their family members “handed away collectively’’ within the “sweetest second of their lives.’’
“There are not any phrases to explain what we’re experiencing, nor to thanks for the heat obtained,” stated a letter posted on X by Joan Camprubí Montal on Friday.
“These are very troublesome instances, however optimism and pleasure have all the time characterised our household,” stated the assertion, which was signed by 19 Escobar and Camprubí Montal relations. “We wish to protect the reminiscence of a contented and united household, within the sweetest second of their lives.
The household added that it takes solace in figuring out they “have handed away collectively.”
Camprubí Montal’s sister, Mercè Camprubí Montal, her husband, Agustin Escobar, and their three younger children — Augustin, 10, Mercedes, 8, and Victor, 4 — had been killed together with their pilot when their chopper fell aside midair Thursday earlier than crashing into the Hudson River close to Jersey Metropolis.
The household was visiting from Spain and on the brink of have fun Mercedes’ ninth birthday Friday. The household additionally was celebrating mother Merce’s fortieth birthday, law-enforcement sources stated.
The household left an “indelible mark amongst all their kin, mates and acquaintances,” the letter stated.
Alongside the assertion, the mourning uncle additionally shared a photograph of the beaming household in Occasions Sq..
Escobar — who was a CEO at Siemens — was within the US on enterprise, and the household flew in from Barcelona to show the journey right into a mini-vacation, officers stated this week.
About 25 minutes right into a New York Helicopter tour piloted by Navy veteran Sean Johnson, 36, the tail and rotors of the chopper broke off, and the craft plunged into the chilly waters under, killing all six on board.
The reason for the tragedy will take “fairly a while” to find out, officers stated Friday.
Kin of Escobar and Camprubí Montal arrived in New York Metropolis on Friday to start the method of repatriating the our bodies again to Spain, they stated of their assertion.
Within the coming days, they are going to share particulars for a “farewell ceremony” for his or her family members.
“Within the meantime, we ask for the utmost respect for privateness, given the worldwide impression of this tragedy and the involvement of the three minors,” they added.
Keep updated on the Hudson River helicopter crash:
Mercè’s brother was as soon as within the operating to proceed their household’s historical past of main the famed FC Barcelona, one of many world’s largest and richest soccer golf equipment. Camprubí Montal pulled out of the race final yr, in line with stories.
“The Escobar-Camprubís will all the time be amongst us, with their pleasure and vitality,” he wrote in his submit on X Friday.