Following a tragic accident last week that claimed the lives of five family members and the pilot, New York Helicopter Charter, Inc., has been suspended from operations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The helicopter, a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV, crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon near Jersey City, New Jersey.
The incident occurred during a sightseeing tour and resulted in the deaths of Agustin Escobar, a Siemens executive, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three young children. Divers recovered the bodies of all seven individuals from the water.
The FAA’s actions are multifaceted, stemming both from the crash itself and concerns about the company’s operational practices. Shortly after the director of operations voluntarily halted flights in response to safety concerns, he was terminated by New York Helicopter Charter—a factor the FAA cited in its decision to ground the company.
“The FAA is taking this action in part because after the company’s director of operations voluntarily shut down flights, he was fired,” stated the FAA.
Current Actions and Future Review:
- An emergency order has been issued to suspend all helicopter charter operations by New York Helicopter Charter, Inc.
- The company is required to surrender its Air Carrier Certificate while the FAA conducts a thorough review.
- A comprehensive review of the company’s safety protocols and adherence to regulations is underway through the Certificate Holder Evaluation Program (CHEP). This program assesses an operator’s ability to manage safety, identify potential hazards, and mitigate risks.
- The FAA will continue supporting the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) investigation into the crash.
As part of a broader commitment to aviation safety, the FAA is also analyzing helicopter accident hotspots across the country and hosting a helicopter safety panel on April 22nd to discuss findings, risks, and potential mitigation strategies.
“Safety is the FAA’s number one priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public,” the agency affirmed.
The suspension of New York Helicopter Charter’s operations will remain in effect until the company can demonstrate that it has implemented the necessary personnel changes and safety measures.