Federal aviation regulators issued an emergency order Monday grounding the helicopter tour firm concerned in a lethal New York crash after studying it had fired its operations director minutes after he had agreed to droop flights through the investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration stated it suspected the firing was retaliation for a security resolution.
“The FAA is taking this action in part because after the company’s director of operations voluntarily shut down flights, he was fired,” appearing Administrator Chris Rocheleau stated on X.
The FAA has issued an emergency order grounding New York Helicopter Constitution, Inc., which operated the Bell 206 helicopter that crashed Thursday within the Hudson River. The FAA is taking this motion partially as a result of after the corporate’s director of operations voluntarily shut down… pic.twitter.com/7qyEbwB0yK
— Chris Rocheleau (@FAA_Chris) April 15, 2025
New York Helicopter Excursions’ sightseeing helicopter broke aside in midair and plunged into the Hudson River Thursday, killing 5 vacationers from Spain and the pilot.
Rocheleau stated the company additionally started a complete overview of the corporate’s operations. The overview is designed to find out whether or not an operator complies with rules and successfully manages security, and identifies hazards and dangers.
The victims included passengers Agustin Escobar, 49, his spouse, Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39, and their three youngsters, Victor, 4, Mercedes, 8, and Agustin, 10. The pilot was Seankese Johnson, 36, a U.S. Navy veteran who acquired his business pilot’s license in 2023. The crash has renewed security considerations concerning the well-liked sightseeing flights.
“The immediate firing of the Director of Operations raises serious safety concerns because it appears Mr. Roth retaliated against Mr. Costello for making the safety decision to cease operations during the investigation,” learn the doc.
The FAA in its order stated the corporate now lacks a required director of operations.
“As a result, NY Helicopter violated 14 C.F.R. § 119.69(a)(1), which states the following: ‘Each certificate holder must have sufficient qualified management and technical personnel to ensure the safety of its operations. Except for a certificate holder using only one pilot in its operations, the certificate holder must have qualified personnel serving in the following or equivalent positions: . . . Director of Operations,'” the FAA order stated.
A press release on the corporate’s web site reads: “New York Helicopter Tours is 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. At New York Helicopter Tours, the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew has always been the cornerstone of our operations. Our immediate focus is supporting the families and their loved ones affected by this tragedy, as well as fully cooperating with the FAA and NTSB investigations. These agencies have asked us to respect the investigative process by referring all press inquiries to them for any further comment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.”
Additionally Monday, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board stated divers discovered key elements of the Bell 206 L-4 helicopter as they wrapped up restoration efforts within the river. New York Metropolis police divers working with the U. S. Military Corps of Engineers and Jersey Metropolis’s Workplace of Emergency Administration recovered and secured the primary rotor system and the tail rotor system, that are anticipated to supply clues concerning the crash.
The FAA stated it additionally launched a Certificates Holder Analysis Program overview to see if the operator complied with required security rules.
