Helicopter in fatal Hudson River crash lacked flight recorder, National Transportation Safety Board says

The doomed helicopter in Thursday's sightseeing crash that killed all six people aboard lacked a flight recorder, the National Transportation Safety Board said Saturday, as side-scanning sonar is being used along the Hudson River to find potential sites of wreckage.  

No preliminary cause has been disclosed, and the investigation has just begun, with a preliminary report due in a month and the final analysis expected in one to two years, according to the NTSB, which is handling the case.

The board said that the main fuselage, including the cabin and cockpit, has been recovered, and some of the wreckage would be sent to NTSB labs in Washington to be scrutinized. Investigators have also met with representatives of the chopper's operator, New York Helicopter Charter Inc.

Recovery operations will continue into Sunday, according to an NTSB news release.

NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said last week that it wasn’t clear whether the helicopter had a black box but it wasn’t required.

Thursday afternoon's crash, off the shore of Jersey City, killed Siemens executive Agustin Escobar Canadas, 49; his wife, Mercè Camprubi Montal, 39, who also worked for the company; and their children: 10-year-old Agustin Escobar Camprubi; 8-year-old Mercedes Escobar Camprubi; and 4-year-old Victor Escobar Camprubi. The pilot, Seankese Johnson, 36, also died.

The brother of Montal made a pilgrimage Saturday to the Hudson River, where the doomed vessel was still being salvaged.

At an event with Mayor Eric Adams on the New York side of the Hudson, Joan Camprubi Montal said that his family was touched by the outpouring of condolences for his loved ones, who had been visiting from Spain when they died.

"They left together. They left without suffering and they left with a smile on their faces," he said.

Joan Camprubi Montal took a boat ride with Adams to view the wreckage, according to mayoral spokeswoman Liz Garcia, as recovery of the helicopter continued into its third day.

Adams said Saturday that they "dropped flowers" for the family, as well as for Johnson.

"Our prayers are with all of the family members involved," he said.

Mercè Camprubi Montal was from northeast Catalonia, home to Barcelona. She had worked for Siemens Energy for about seven years, including as its global commercialization manager and as a digitalization manager, according to her LinkedIn account.

She was also closely tied to the history of the famous FC Barcelona soccer club. Her grandfather, Agustí Montal i Costa, was president of the club from 1969-1977, and her great-grandfather, Agustí Montal i Galobart, presided over the club from 1946-1952.

The club has not commented on her death.

With AP

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.