NEW YORK HELICOPTER TOURS, the owner of the helicopter that tragically crashed into the Hudson River last Thursday, has announced the immediate shutdown of its operations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the decision on Sunday, stating it will continue to support the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigation into the incident. The crash claimed the lives of all six people onboard, including a Spanish family of five and the helicopter’s Navy SEAL veteran pilot.
The FAA has also launched an immediate review of the tour operator’s license and safety record. “Safety is the FAA’s number one priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public,” the agency stated. As part of its ongoing efforts, the FAA is analyzing airplane and helicopter hotspots nationwide and will host a helicopter safety panel on April 22 to discuss findings, risks, and mitigation strategies.
The helicopter, a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV, disintegrated midair on Thursday afternoon before plunging into the water near Jersey City, New Jersey. Among the victims were Agustin Escobar, a Siemens executive; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal; and their three young children. Divers recovered their bodies from the wreckage, alongside the pilot, whose identity has not yet been released.
The NTSB revealed on Saturday that the helicopter was not equipped with flight recorders, and none of the onboard avionics captured data useful for the investigation. Investigators are currently evaluating the helicopter’s flight control system and have recovered key components, including the main fuselage, cockpit, cabin, and sections of the tail boom. Some parts will be sent to the NTSB laboratories in Washington, D.C., for further analysis.
Divers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) are still searching for the helicopter’s main rotor, main gearbox, tail rotor, and a significant portion of the tail boom. According to the NTSB, the helicopter underwent its last major inspection on March 1 and had completed seven tour flights prior to the crash, which occurred during its eighth flight of the day.
The NTSB investigation is being assisted by the FAA, Bell Helicopter, and Rolls-Royce. Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
[SOURCES: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Fox News Digital]