The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Sunday that New York Helicopter Tours, the company responsible for the tragic helicopter crash into the Hudson River last week, will shut down its operations immediately. The decision comes after a devastating accident on April 10, 2025, which claimed the lives of all six people on board, including a family of five visiting from Spain and the pilot.
The crash has raised significant concerns about the safety of civilian helicopter flights in New York City and beyond. The helicopter, a Bell 206 operated by New York Helicopter Tours, was on its eighth flight of the day when it broke apart mid-air and plunged into the Hudson River. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that the helicopter was not equipped with any flight recorders or onboard cameras, which could have provided crucial data for the investigation.
The victims of the crash included Agustín Escobar, a Siemens executive, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children: Victor, 4, Mercedes, 8, and Agustín, 10. The pilot, 36-year-old Seankese Johnson, a U.S. Navy veteran, also perished in the accident. The incident has left the community in mourning and has prompted calls for increased safety measures and oversight in the helicopter tour industry.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer had earlier called for the company to cease flights until a full investigation could be concluded. He also urged for more rigorous safety inspections of other helicopter tour companies in New York, citing a “deadly track record” of such tours. The FAA’s decision to shut down New York Helicopter Tours and review its safety record is a significant step in addressing these concerns.
The company’s CEO, Michael Roth, confirmed the shutdown but expressed uncertainty about the future of the business. The FAA emphasized that safety is its top priority and that it will continue to support the NTSB’s investigation while also hosting a helicopter safety panel on April 22 to discuss findings and recommendations.
As the investigation into the crash continues, the tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent safety regulations and oversight in the aviation industry. The closure of New York Helicopter Tours marks a somber moment for the community and the industry as a whole, as efforts are made to prevent such tragedies in the future.