Siemens Executive and His Family Died in Hudson River Helicopter Crash

The Escobar family posed for pictures on a chilly helipad jutting into the waters off Manhattan, smiling in front of the helicopter that would soon take them on a sightseeing tour of the city’s famous skyline.

It was possibly the last picture the family of five took before they and the helicopter’s pilot were killed when the craft crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon.

The parents — Agustín Escobar and Mercè Camprubí Montal, both executives from Spain — had traveled to New York to celebrate Ms. Camprubí’s birthday with their three children, Agustín, 10, Mercè, 8, and Víctor, 4.

Before the crash, the tour company that operated the helicopter posted their pictures on its website: Mr. Escobar and Ms. Camprubí can be seen embracing their children, who are beaming in knit winter hats and warm coats. In one picture, a child can be seen riding in the front of the craft with the pilot, Seankese Johnson.

Relatives said that Friday would have been another family birthday: Mercè was supposed to turn 9.

Laura Anderson, a family friend, wrote in a tribute on Friday that Ms. Camprubí was “a dedicated and loving wife and mother” but also “so much more.”

“Mercè was a vibrant woman, always laughing, always contributing her energy and expertise and always reminding us that there was more to life than work (fashion, football, fun!),” she wrote.