Mom killed in Hudson River helicopter crash was from FC Barcelona soccer dynasty
The mom killed in Thursday’s tragic Hudson River helicopter crash hailed from soccer royalty in Barcelona — with both her grandfather and great-grandfather serving as presidents of the city’s world-famous namesake club.
Mercè Camprubí Montal, her husband, Agustin Escobar, and their three children — Augustin, 10, Mercedes, 8, and Victor, 4 — all died when their sightseeing helicopter broke apart in midair and crashed into the river Thursday afternoon.
The family was celebrating Mercè’s 40th birthday, as well as the 8-year-old’s birthday, while in the Big Apple, according to law-enforcement sources and Mayor Eric Adams.
Camprubí Montal’s family, which made their fortunate in textile manufacturing, is best known in her hometown by their reign over FC Barcelona — one of the world’s biggest and richest soccer clubs, .
Her great-grandfather, Agustí Montal Galobart, served as president of the club from 1946 to 1952 and was best known for acquiring the land on which the club’s iconic stadium, the Nou Camp, was built.
Galobart’s son and Camprubí Montal’s grandfather, Agustí Montal Costa, helmed the club between 1969 and 1977.
Montal Costa’s tenure is best known for the signing of Dutch superstar Johan Cruyff from Amsterdam club Ajax for a then-record transfer fee of around $2 million (approximately $14.8 million in today’s money). In Cryuff’s first season, Barcelona won their first Spanish league title in 14 years, highlighted by a 5-0 road demolition of hated rivals Real Madrid.
Stay up to date on the Hudson River helicopter crash:
- Doomed helicopter in Hudson River crash was on eighth flight of day and lacked flight recorder: officials
- New York Helicopter Tours shuts down after Hudson River crash that killed 6: FAA
- Pilot of doomed Hudson River helicopter ID’d as Navy SEAL veteran who had posted chilling video month before death
- Disturbing video shows moment helicopter plummets into Hudson River, killing six
- NTSB report reveals disturbing new details in doomed tourist helicopter that crashed into Hudson, killing 6
Mercè’s brother, Joan Camprubí Montal, had tried to carry on the dynasty but pulled out of a challenge last year to the incumbent president, Joan Laporta.
Camprubí Montal, meanwhile, had her own successful career.
She spent seven years working for the energy technology company Siemens Energy, including as its global commercialization manager and as a digitalization manager, her LinkedIn account shows.
Her husband had worked for Siemens for more than 27 years, most recently as global CEO for rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility.
“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 confirmed the family had lived in Barcelona before the ill-fated trip.
“(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.”
With Post wires
