The helicopter tour company involved in last week’s devastating crash over the Hudson River is shutting its doors for good, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed.
New York Helicopter Tours, which had operated sightseeing flights across Manhattan, is ceasing operations immediately after one of its helicopters fell apart mid-air and plunged into the river on April 10, killing all six people onboard. Among the victims were Spanish executive Agustín Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, their three children, and the pilot, Sean Johnson, a former U.S. Navy officer.
The aircraft — a Bell 206 LongRanger IV — was on its eighth tour of the day when it suddenly broke apart in flight. Officials say the helicopter lacked both flight and video recorders, and no usable data has yet been recovered from the avionics, making the investigation more challenging.
In the aftermath, Senator Chuck Schumer urged the FAA to crack down on what he described as a “profit-over-safety” approach taken by some tour operators. He’s calling for tougher safety regulations industry-wide.
The FAA, alongside the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is now conducting a deep dive into the company’s safety history. A helicopter safety summit is scheduled for April 22, where federal officials will discuss next steps to better regulate the aerial tourism sector.
