ByEyewitness News
Monday, April 14, 2025 4:16PM
Chanteé Lans has the latest on the closure of the company involved in the deadly helicopter crash on the Hudson River.
LOWER MANHATTAN (WABC) — New York Helicopter Tours — the company involved in the deadly crash on the Hudson River — is shutting down its operations immediately, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Six people were killed, including three children, when a tourist helicopter plunged into the Hudson River in New York City on Thursday afternoon.
In the wake of the deadly incident, the FAA said it will also be launching an immediate review of the tour operator’s license and safety record.
The agency said it is analyzing airplane and helicopter hotspots nationwide and will be hosting a helicopter safety panel on April 22 to discuss the findings, risks and additional mitigation options.
“Safety is the FAA’s number one priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public,” the agency said in a statement on Sunday.
The New York Helicopters chartered chopper, which was carrying a pilot, and a family visiting from Spain, fell into the Hudson River by Lower Manhattan on April 11.
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Agustin Escobar and his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, both executives from the European automation company Siemens and their children — aged 4, 5 and 11 years old — were killed in the crash along with the pilot, aged 36, law enforcement sources told ABC News at the time.
The crash occurred at 3:17 p.m. off the coast of River Drive in Hoboken, New Jersey, just over 15 minutes after it departed from the Wall St. Heliport. The helicopter reached the George Washington Bridge before turning south and crashing, officials said during the briefing.
“Our hearts go out to the family and those on board,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said after the incident.
Video from the crash showed the chopper plunging into the water without a tail rotor or a main rotor blade. Officials said it hit the water inverted.
The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing its investigation into the incident.
Crash investigation continues
Recovery operations resumed after divers with the NYPD spent all weekend searching in the frigid waters for more wreckage from the crash.
So far, the cockpit, cabin and part of the helicopter’s tail have been recovered, according to the NTSB. Crews are using a sonar system to scan the sea floor for potential locations of other wreckage, including the aircraft’s main rotor.
Officials are seeking answers to the cause of the craft coming apart midair before plunging into the river off Jersey City on Thursday.
Video shows the moments before a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River.
On Saturday night, the NTSB said the helicopter that crashed was not equipped with any flight recorders. The agency added, “no onboard video recorders or camera recorders have been recovered and none of the helicopter avionics onboard recorded information that could be used for the investigation.”
Officials say the helicopter’s last major inspection was on March 1. Before the crash, the helicopter had completed seven tour flights. The accident occurred during the eighth flight of the day.
Investigators have begun evaluating the flight control systems of the helicopter at a secure location.
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Some information from ABC News and The Associated Press
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