Helicopter company shuts operations after deadly New York crash, FAA says
New York Helicopter Tours, the company involved in the deadly helicopter crash in New York, is shutting down its operations immediately, the Federal Aviation Administration announced.
"Additionally, the FAA will be launching an immediate review of the tour operator's license and safety record," the FAA said in a statement on April 13.
Divers from the New York Police Department continued recovery operations on April 13, searching for parts of the helicopter, including the main rotor, gearbox, tail rotor, and a large portion of the tail boom. Meanwhile, National Transportation Safety Board investigators have begun evaluating the helicopter’s flight control system at a "secure location," according to the safety agency.
Parts that have already been recovered, such as the cockpit, cabin, horizontal stabilizer finlets, the vertical fin, and a portion of the tail boom, were sent to NTSB laboratories in Washington for inspection.
In an update on April 12, the NTSB said no video or camera recorders had been recovered from the Bell 206 helicopter. The agency added that none of the electronic systems and equipment on the aircraft had recorded information that would help the investigation.
The aircraft, whose passengers included an executive at tech company Siemens, his wife, and three children, crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey, on April 10. Video of the incident showed the helicopter plunging into the water, followed moments later by a detached rotor.
Divers recovered the victims as well as the pilot from the submerged helicopter. Four people were declared dead at the scene, while two others died later after they were transported to nearby hospitals.
Officials have not determined the cause of the crash, but aviation experts previously told Paste BN that video of the crash appears to indicate a catastrophic failure of the helicopter's rotor. The incident is under investigation by the FAA and NTSB.
What happened to the helicopter?
The helicopter took off at around 3 p.m. on April 10 from a heliport in downtown Manhattan for an aerial tour of the city, authorities said. The aircraft flew north along the Hudson River and later turned south after reaching the George Washington Bridge, according to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
The helicopter then crashed at about 3:15 p.m., hitting the water upside down near Jersey City, authorities said. The victims were later identified as pilot Seankese Johnson, 36, and a family of five visiting from Spain, including Agustin Escobar, his wife, and their three children, ages 4, 8, and 10.
Escobar, a senior executive at Siemens, was in New York City on business but extended the trip so he and his family could celebrate his daughter's 9th birthday on April 11, according to Steven Fulop, the mayor of Jersey City.
The helicopter was operated by New York Helicopter Charter Inc. and owned by Meridian Helicopters LLC, based in Louisiana. According to the NTSB, the helicopter's last major inspection was on March 1, and it had completed seven tour flights before the crash.
The NTSB said on April 12 that its investigators met with representatives from the helicopter operator to review operational records, policies and procedures, safety management systems, and the pilot’s experience. NTSB investigators also examined two similar helicopters as part of the probe.
Schumer: 'Usually the companies, not the pilots, that are openly manipulating FAA rules'
The crash renewed safety concerns about the aerial tourism industry. Helicopter tours in New York have been controversial, and some flights have turned deadly, Paste BN reported.
Earlier, on April 13, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged the FAA to revoke the company's operating certificate immediately. Schumer also called on the FAA to increase regulations for helicopter tours, including expanding ramp inspections ‒ surprise safety inspections ‒ at helicopter tour companies across New York City.
"There is one thing for sure about New York City's helicopter tour companies, they have a deadly track record," Schumer said at a news conference. "It is usually the companies, not the pilots, that are openly manipulating FAA rules, cutting corners and could well be putting profits over people."
Records obtained by Paste BN showed that New York Helicopter Charter Inc. was previously involved in two safety incidents in 2013 and 2015.
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Christopher Cann, and Michael Loria, Paste BN; Reuters