FAA Orders Immediate Closure of New York Helicopter Tour Company Following Crash | US News
The sightseeing helicopter tour operator involved in a tragic crash in New York that resulted in six fatalities is ceasing operations immediately, as stated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The incident claimed the lives of the pilot and a family of five Spanish tourists, three of whom were children, during the crash in the Hudson River last Thursday.
This action was taken just hours after New York Senator Chuck Schumer urged federal authorities to revoke the operating permits for New York Helicopter Tours.
Senator Schumer remarked, “One of the most significant steps we can take to honor the victims’ lives and prevent future tragedies is to ensure that such incidents do not recur.”
“It’s clear that New York City’s helicopter tour operators have a troubling safety history.”
Agustin Escobar and Merce Camprubi Montal. Pic: Facebook
Among the victims were passengers Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, 39, and their three children, Victor, 4, Mercedes, 8, and Agustin, 10.
The pilot, Seankese Johnson, 36, a US Navy veteran who had obtained his commercial pilot’s license earlier this year, also perished in the crash.
The FAA plans to review the company’s operational license and safety history.
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Moment helicopter crashed
The company has committed to cooperating with the authorities throughout the investigation.
This incident has reignited concerns regarding the safety of commercial sightseeing flights in New York.
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Over the past 20 years, a total of five helicopters have plunged into the Hudson and East Rivers due to mechanical failures, pilot errors, or collisions, resulting in the deaths of 20 individuals.
