The Federal Aviation Administration said on Sunday that the tour company that operated the helicopter that broke apart midair and crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday, killing everyone on board, is immediately ceasing operations.
The news of the company’s shuttering came just hours after New York Sen. Chuck Schumer urged authorities to revoke the operators’ permits. A visit to the New York Helicopter Tours webpage displays a prominent banner announcing the company’s intention to comply with official investigations into the crash.
“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,” read the announcement.
“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.”
On Sunday, the FAA posted a message to social media platform X, confirming the company’s closure and announcing an investigation.
FAA Statement⁰⁰New York Helicopter Tours — the company involved in the deadly crash on the Hudson earlier this week — is shutting down their operations immediately.⁰ ⁰We will continue to support @NTSB’s investigation. Additionally, the FAA will be launching an immediate…
— The FAA ✈️ (@FAANews) April 14, 2025
The FAA said it is assessing airplane and helicopter “hotspots” around the country and will host a safety panel later this month.
“Safety is the FAA’s number one priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public,” the post concluded.
The crash took the lives of everyone on board: Agustin Escobar, 49; his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39; their three children, Victor, 4, Mercedes, 8, and Agustin, 10, and the pilot, Seankese Johnson, 36, a U.S. Navy veteran who obtained his commercial license in 2023.
Over the past 20 years, five helicopters on commercial sightseeing tours have crashed into the Hudson and East Rivers from either mechanical failure, pilot error, or collisions, resulting in the deaths of 20 people.