NEW YORK — The Federal Aviation Administration mentioned Sunday that the helicopter tour firm whose sightseeing chopper broke aside in flight and crashed in New York, killing the pilot and a household of 5 guests from Spain, is shutting down operations instantly.
The FAA, in an announcement posted on X, additionally mentioned it could launch a direct overview of New York Helicopter Tours’ working license and security document.
The transfer got here hours after New York Sen. Chuck Schumer had referred to as on federal authorities to revoke the working permits of New York Helicopter Tours.
The corporate’s sightseeing helicopter broke aside in midair and plunged into the Hudson River Thursday, killing the vacationers from Spain and the pilot, a Navy SEAL veteran.
At a information convention Sunday, earlier than the announcement by the FAA, Schumer mentioned the corporate ought to be required to halt all flights because the Nationwide Transportation Security Board investigates the lethal crash.
The Senate Democrat minority chief additionally referred to as on the Federal Aviation Administration to ramp up security inspections for different helicopter tour corporations, accusing them of “reducing corners and placing income over individuals.”
The victims included passengers Agustin Escobar, 49, his spouse, Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39, and their three kids, Victor, 4, Mercedes, 8, and Agustin, 10. The pilot was Seankese Johnson, 36, a U.S. Navy veteran who obtained his industrial pilot’s license in 2023.
“One of many issues we are able to do to honor these lives and attempt to save others is to verify it doesn’t occur once more,” Schumer mentioned. “We all know there may be one factor for certain about New York City’s helicopter tour corporations: they’ve a lethal monitor document.”
Thursday’s crash has renewed security considerations about New York’s sightseeing excursions, a well-liked vacationer draw that whisks passengers excessive above town, providing hovering views of the Statue of Liberty, the World Commerce Middle and different landmarks.
Within the final twenty years, 5 helicopters on industrial sightseeing flights have fallen into the Hudson and East rivers on account of mechanical failures, pilot errors or collisions, killing 20 individuals.
The president of New York Helicopter Tours, Michael Roth, didn’t reply to telephone and electronic mail inquiries. The corporate mentioned in an announcement printed on its web site that it was cooperating with authorities within the investigation.
In response to Schumer’s requires extra oversight, an business group, Japanese Area Helicopter Council, mentioned Manhattan’s sightseeing choppers “already function underneath probably the most stringent of laws.”
“We stand able to work with leaders on discovering methods to make sure the protection and preservation of our companies and aviation neighborhood,” the group mentioned.
Critics of the business have lengthy sought to restrict or totally ban nonessential helicopter flights from taking off above town, although they’ve had restricted success. After New York City capped the variety of flights that might take off from Manhattan heliports at 30,000 yearly in 2016, many corporations moved operations to New Jersey.
Two years later, in 2018, 5 individuals died when a helicopter providing “open door” flights crashed within the East River after a passenger’s restraint tether snagged on a gas swap, stopping the engine.
The reason for Thursday’s crash just isn’t but decided. In line with Schumer, rescue divers have been persevering with to seek for the helicopter’s most important rotor and meeting gear field, which might give clues about what occurred.
