New York Helicopter Excursions, the operator of the chopper that fell into the Hudson River on Thursday, killing a pilot and household of 5 visiting from Spain, is shutting down operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration made that announcement late Sunday, saying the corporate would stop operations instantly.
“Additionally, the FAA will be launching an immediate review of the tour operator’s license and safety record,” the FAA assertion learn, partly.
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) April 14, 2025
The transfer comes hours after New York Sen. Chuck Schumer referred to as on federal authorities to revoke the corporate’s permits, and particularly mentioned the FAA ought to ramp up security inspections for different helicopter tour corporations, accusing them of “cutting corners and putting profits over people.”
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 acquired his business pilot’s license in 2023.
“One of the things we can do to honor those lives and try to save others is to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Schumer mentioned. “We know there is one thing for sure about New York City’s helicopter tour companies: they have a deadly track record.”
Within the final 20 years, 5 helicopters on business sightseeing flights have fallen into the Hudson and East rivers on account of mechanical failures, pilot errors or collisions, killing 20 folks.
In response to Schumer’s requires extra oversight, an trade group, Japanese Area Helicopter Council, mentioned Manhattan’s sightseeing choppers “already function underneath essentially the most stringent of laws.”
“We stand ready to work with leaders on finding ways to ensure the safety and preservation of our businesses and aviation community,” the group mentioned.
Critics of the trade 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 Metropolis 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 folks died when a helicopter providing “open door” flights crashed within the East River after a passenger’s restraint tether snagged on a gasoline swap, stopping the engine.
The reason for Thursday’s crash is just not but decided. In accordance with Schumer, rescue divers have been persevering with to seek for the helicopter’s primary rotor and meeting gear field, which might give clues about what occurred.
