Helicopter operator of crashed helicopter ordered to cease operations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Sunday (April 12) that the “New York Helicopter Tours” company must immediately cease operations following a tragic incident where a sightseeing helicopter in New York disintegrated mid-air and crashed, resulting in the death of six individuals.

FAA also stated that they will conduct a comprehensive review of the company’s operating permit and safety record.

Just hours before FAA issued the ban, Senate Minority Leader and New York State Senator Schumer called for an immediate suspension of the company’s operations and emphasized the need for stronger oversight of all helicopter tour operators in the city. Schumer criticized some operators for prioritizing profit over safety, stating that “the most fundamental thing we can do is to prevent such tragedies from happening again.”

The accident occurred last Thursday when the helicopter involved disintegrated in the air and plunged into the Hudson River, resulting in the tragic deaths of five tourists from Spain and the pilot.

This tragedy has once again brought significant attention to the safety of helicopter tours in New York. Over the past 20 years, five commercial sightseeing helicopters have crashed into the Hudson River or East River due to mechanical failures, pilot errors, or collisions, resulting in the loss of 20 lives.

In 2016, New York City imposed a limit on the total number of Manhattan helicopter take-offs and landings to no more than 30,000 per year, leading some operators to shift their operations to New Jersey.

The cause of the crash has not been determined yet, and rescue teams are still searching for the helicopter’s main rotor and gearbox in hopes of clarifying the truth behind the accident.