Fatal helicopter crash: New York's sightseeing flights stopped for the time being!

Fatal helicopter crash: New York's sightseeing flights stopped for the time being!

New York Helicopter Tours hired its operation for the time being. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the setting on Sunday via the platform X (formerly Twitter). The company's review and comprehensive security standards were immediately initiated to examine the incident.

The crash occurred on Thursday when a sightseeing helicopter broke apart in the air and crashed into the Hudson River. In the accident, Agustin Escobar (49), his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal (39) and her three children Victor (4), Mercedes (8) and Agustin (10) and the pilot Sankese Johnson (36) were killed. Johnson only came into the possession of his commercial pilot license in 2023 and a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

safety concerns in the helicopter tourism industry

Senator Chuck Schumer commented on the incident and called for an immediate withdrawal of the operating license for New York Helicopter Tours and stricter security inspections for all helicopter tour providers in New York. He accused the company of providing profits through security standards and human life. Schumer reported that rescue divers are currently looking for the main rotor and the gearbox to find out what led to the tragic misfortune.

The reaction of the industry

Michael Roth, the President of New York Helicopter Tours, has not yet responded to inquiries, but emphasized that the company cooperated entirely with the authorities. In the past time, the security standards in the industry have repeatedly come into the crossfire of criticism. The Eastern region Helicopter Council, an industry organization, rejected Schumer's demands for more supervision and claimed that the helicopters were already subject to strict regulations.

New York Helicopter Tours offers tours that offer spectacular views of iconic sights of the city, such as the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Central Park. The prices for these tours vary and include fees for the helipop and fuel. Part of the tours offered focuses on the breathtaking skyline of Manhattan.

The exact cause of the crash remains unclear, but the investigation of the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently in full swing to ensure that such tragedies can be avoided in the future.