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FAA launches review after deadly Hudson River helicopter crash as operator shuts down
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Phil Corso
Published Apr 13, 2025
Modified Apr 13, 2025
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NTSB
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Phil Corso
Published Apr 13, 2025
Modified Apr 13, 2025
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The helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday, killing all six people on board, had no flight recording devices and had not undergone a major inspection in more than five weeks, according to federal investigators.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the absence of flight data or cockpit voice recorders — commonly known as “black boxes” — limits the information available to determine what caused the crash. NYPD divers were still combing the river Sunday for critical components of the helicopter, including its main rotor and tail section.
The aircraft was on its eighth sightseeing flight of the day when it broke apart midair and plunged into the water.
On Sunday evening, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that the operator, New York Helicopter Tours, was shutting down immediately. The FAA said it is launching a full review of the company’s license and safety record, and will convene a national safety panel later this month to examine helicopter and airplane hotspots and recommend risk mitigation strategies.
“Safety is the FAA’s number one priority,” the agency said in a statement. “We will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public.”
The NTSB has for years called on the FAA to impose more strict regulations and inspection standards on tourist helicopter flights. A 2021 report from the agency found the lack of oversight for helicopter tour flights “introduced risks the NTSB determined were unacceptable and avoidable.”
“Members of the public who pay to participate in [passenger tour flights] are likely unaware that these operations have less stringent requirements than other commercial aviation operations,” the 2021 report said. “Although the types of [passenger tour flight] operations are diverse, the need for greater safety requirements and more comprehensive oversight applies to all of these operations.”
The helicopter took off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, which is the busiest commercial helipad in the United States, handling more than 30,000 flights every year. NTSB investigators met with representatives of New York Helicopter Tours and took parts recovered from the helicopter to Washington, D.C. for further inspection.
Thursday’s crash killed Spanish nationals Mercè Camprubi Montal, her husband Agustín Escobar, and their three children ages 10, 8 and 4. The pilot of the crash, 36-year-old Navy veteran Sean Johnson, was also killed.
“Usually the companies, not the pilots, are openly manipulating FAA rules, cutting corners and could well be putting profits over people," Sen. Chuck Schumer said during a news conference at the heliport on Sunday.
The Eastern Region Helicopter Council, a group that represents helicopter pilots and companies, issued a statement urging the public "not to jump to any conclusions" until the investigation is complete.
"We need to fully understand what happened before any actions are taken to ensure we get it right and nothing like this can ever happen again," the group wrote in the statement. "We stand ready to work with leaders on finding ways to ensure the safety and preservation of our businesses and aviation community."
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new jersey
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Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Phil Corso
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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