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From the Wall Street Journal: New York Helicopter, the tour operator behind the Hudson River crash that killed a Spanish family of five and a pilot, is shutting down, the Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday.
The FAA said the company will stop operations immediately, and the FAA will conduct a review of New York Helicopter’s license and safety record. The National Transportation Safety Board’s probe into the cause of last week’s crash will continue, the FAA said.
“Safety is the FAA’s number one priority and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public,” the agency said on social media.
Mike Roth, owner of the tour company, said he was unaware of the FAA announcement when reached by phone Sunday. “I did not authorize that,” he said.
Six people were killed in the deadly crash into New York’s Hudson River on Thursday. Agustín Escobar Cañadas, 49, and his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39, who both worked for Siemens, and their three young children: two sons, ages 4 and 11, and a daughter who would have turned 9 on Friday. The pilot, Sean Johnson, 36, a former Navy SEAL, was also killed.
The FAA released the following statement Sunday night:
New York Helicopter Tours — the company involved in the deadly crash on the Hudson earlier this week — is shutting down their operations immediately.
We will continue to support @NTSB’s investigation. Additionally, the FAA will be launching an immediate review of the tour operator’s license and safety record.
Lastly on the topic of helicopter safety broadly: The FAA is already analyzing airplane/helicopter hotspots nationwide, and we will be hosting a helicopter safety panel on April 22 to discuss the findings, risks, and additional mitigation options.
Safety is the FAA’s number one priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public.
FAA Statement⁰⁰New York Helicopter Tours — the company involved in the deadly crash on the Hudson earlier this week — is shutting down their operations immediately.⁰ ⁰We will continue to support @NTSB’s investigation. Additionally, the FAA will be launching an immediate…
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) April 14, 2025
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said earlier on Sunday, “After the tragic Hudson River crash: I’m urging the FAA to pull NY Helicopter Tours’ operating certificate, cease their flights until the investigation is complete, and increase ramp inspections on every other helicopter tour company. So many lives depend on getting this right.”
After the tragic Hudson River crash:
I’m urging the FAA to pull NY Helicopter Tours’ operating certificate, cease their flights until the investigation is complete, and increase ramp inspections on every other helicopter tour company.
So many lives depend on getting this right. pic.twitter.com/uBPBB69Jwn
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 13, 2025
