Agustín Escobar and Mercè Camprubí Montal, a Spanish couple with prominent roles in Siemens, were among the six people who died in a helicopter crash over the Hudson River in New York. The couple were travelling with their three children, reported to be aged four, five and eleven. The pilot of the aircraft was also killed.
The family had taken a sightseeing flight over New York when the helicopter went down. Mr Escobar and Mrs Camprubí Montal, based in Barcelona, were internationally recognised corporate figures with long careers in the German technology firm Siemens.
Mr Escobar, originally from Puertollano in southern Spain, was recently appointed CEO of rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility. Before this, he served as president and CEO of Siemens Spain. His 27-year tenure at the company included senior roles across Latin America and the United States.
Mrs Camprubí Montal, a Barcelona native, had been a global commercialisation manager at Siemens. Her 16-year career at the company included senior appointments in its energy division and several international postings.
She came from a well-known Catalan family with historical ties to the textile industry and to FC Barcelona. Her great-grandfather, Agustí Montal Galobart, and her grandfather, Agustí Montal Costa, both served as presidents of the football club. The latter’s presidency included the signing of Dutch footballer Johann Cruyff in 1973.
In 2023, her brother Joan Camprubí Montal was briefly considered as a possible candidate for the FC Barcelona presidency.
The deaths of Mr Escobar and Mrs Camprubí Montal have prompted tributes from colleagues and public figures. Siemens expressed its condolences, and former colleagues described Mr Escobar as a devoted father and leader.
Emiliano García-Page, president of the Castilla-La Mancha region, said he was “deeply upset” by the news, noting Mr Escobar had been named a “favourite son” of the region.
The family was described by those who knew them as globe-trotting and highly respected, with a commitment to professional excellence and international cooperation.