Off The Record
Company Behind Fatal Helicopter Crash Abruptly Closes Its Doors
The tour helicopter firm located in New York that was involved in the sad Hudson River crash last week, which claimed the lives of six passengers, including small children, has formally suspended all of its operations.
The announcement was made by the Federal Aviation Administration on Sunday night.
There are still many unanswered issues following the terrible helicopter tragedy in New York last week. Although there have been many hypotheses on social media, the official inquiry is still proceeding.
Agustín Escobar, 49, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three young children—two boys, ages four and eleven, and a daughter who was about to turn nine—were among the six passengers on board. City officials then identified the pilot as Seankese Johnson, 36, a decorated former Navy SEAL.
Halting all operations
The Bell 206 helicopter that was involved in the incident belonged to the fleet of New York Helicopter Tours, which is well-known for providing pricey tourist rides over Manhattan. It has done innumerable tours over the metropolitan skyline prior to Thursday’s disaster.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement on Sunday that the corporation at the heart of the tragedy is now immediately ceasing all activities in the wake of the fatal crash.
Additionally, the FAA announced that it will begin a thorough examination of the safety record and operating license of New York Helicopter Tours. As the investigation into the fatal collision continues, the agency stated that it will maintain tight collaboration with the National Transportation Safety Board.
In the wake of the catastrophe, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer urged federal authorities to cancel the company’s certification earlier that day.
”We know there is one thing for sure about New York City’s helicopter tour companies: they have a deadly track record … and it is usually the companies, not the pilots, that are openly manipulating (FAA) rules, cutting corners and could well be putting profits over people,” Schumer said.
“One of the things we can do to honor those lives and try and save others is to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on the FAA to increase surprise inspections, or ramp checks, at other sightseeing helicopter companies in New York City in addition to halting helicopter tours.
Unannounced inspections
The purpose of these surprise inspections is to ensure that aircraft and operators are adhering to all safety regulations.
Over the years, New York Helicopter Charter has experienced numerous occurrences involving dangerous crashes and mechanical breakdowns, and it is well-known for its scenic tours of New York City.
In 2013, the company’s tour helicopter carrying a family of four from Sweden had to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River close to Manhattan’s Upper West Side after losing power in midair.
The same company’s second helicopter lost control just 20 feet above the earth and crashed in northern New Jersey two years later.
The aircraft had a defective drive shaft, which had been incorrectly reused following a prior hard landing in Chile, according to investigations.
The New York Times claims that the business has also been involved in legal issues. New York Helicopter Charter filed a lawsuit against the maintenance business that handled the repairs following the 2013 emergency landing, alleging that the company was negligent in preventing the technical problems. The case closed in 2018, but the outcome remains unknown.
Financial difficulties
Financial issues have plagued the business in recent years; in December, they repossessed one of its helicopters due to non-payment of the lease. In 2019, New York Helicopter Charter declared bankruptcy, alleging financial difficulties brought on by shifting city regulations pertaining to air travel in New York.
Recently, the controversy surrounding helicopter traffic in Manhattan has intensified, particularly since the number of complaints over the noise keeps growing. The constant buzzing of blades overhead is a daily inconvenience for many locals, not simply an annoyance.
Proponents of the flights contend that they provide a unique opportunity to take in the city’s skyline, but mounting safety concerns have given the debate a new sense of urgency.
In actuality, the spate of fatalities over the years has only strengthened calls for the permanent grounding of non-essential helicopters. The Associated Press reports that between 1977 and 2019, at least 32 people lost their lives in helicopter crashes in New York City.
In 2018, a “doors-off” helicopter trip ended tragically, making it one of the most notorious wrecks. Five passengers, all trapped in their harnesses and unable to escape, died when the helicopter crashed into the East River. The FAA tightened regulations on these kinds of flights as a result of that crash.
Grounding all choppers?
New York City Councilwoman Amanda Farías, who chairs the Council’s Committee on Economic Development, has also called for stronger oversight. On Friday, she said there needs to be “a serious reevaluation of current policies” and pushed for the city “to consider an immediate moratorium on non-essential helicopter flights from city-owned heliports while investigations are ongoing.”
But not everyone is in favor of halting helicopters. A complete prohibition, according to the Eastern Region Helicopter Council, which advocates for local operators, is not the best course of action.
“The helicopter community is in shock and mourning after the tragic and horrific events,” said chairman Jeff Smith in a statement. “Unfortunately, some well-meaning but misguided leaders are using this tragedy to exploit and push their decades-old agenda to ban all helicopters. Before taking legislative action, we need to learn more from the investigation.”
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