The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Sunday night that New York Helicopter Tours, the company behind the ill-fated flight, is halting all operations effective immediately following the tragic helicopter crash into the Hudson River that claimed six lives,
In a statement posted on X, the FAA confirmed, “New York Helicopter Tours is shutting down their operations immediately,” while also disclosing that a comprehensive review of the company’s license and safety record is underway.
The company, already under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, was found to have operated the helicopter without flight data recorders or on-board cameras, according to an NTSB update on Saturday.
The crash occurred last Thursday, killing a visiting Spanish family of five, Agustin Escobar, 49; Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39; and their children Victor, 4; Mercedes, 8; and Agustin, 10, along with the pilot, 36-year-old Seankese Johnson.
Johnson, a U.S. Navy veteran, had been certified as a commercial pilot in 2023 and had logged over 800 flight hours.
As of early Monday, the company’s website remained accessible, featuring a statement expressing sorrow over the incident, “profoundly saddened by the tragic accident and loss of life that occurred on April 10, 2025, involving one of our helicopters in the Hudson River.”
The message also directed all media inquiries to federal authorities.
Repeated attempts by the Associated Press to contact the company’s president, Michael Roth, received no response.
The incident has renewed national scrutiny over helicopter tour safety, particularly in New York. During a Sunday press briefing, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) urged the company to suspend operations until investigations are complete.
He also advocated for surprise safety checks on other tour operators, calling the flights “risky.”
However, New York City Mayor Eric Adams downplayed the idea of an outright ban on such tours in a Friday interview.
Industry representatives also weighed in. The Eastern Regional Helicopter Council told the AP that sightseeing flights in the city “already operate under the most stringent of regulations.”
In response to the growing safety concerns, the FAA said it is “already analyzing airplane/helicopter hotspots nationwide” and will host a helicopter safety panel on April 22 to present findings and recommendations.
