New York Helicopter Tours, the company responsible for the helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River near the New Jersey shoreline last Thursday, killing all six people on board, is immediately discontinuing its operations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA stated that it will assist the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in their investigation of the crash and will also conduct a review of the tour operator’s license and safety record. The FAA is prioritizing safety and plans to analyze helicopter hotspots across the country, hosting a safety panel to discuss risks and mitigation options.
The tragic crash involved a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV helicopter that broke apart in midair before landing upside down in the water near Jersey City, New Jersey. Among the victims were a Spanish family of five and the helicopter’s pilot, a Navy SEAL veteran. The bodies were retrieved from the water by divers and pronounced dead. The NTSB reported that the helicopter did not have any flight recorders, and the avionics onboard did not record any information that could aid in the investigation. Investigators are examining the helicopter’s flight control system and have recovered several parts for further analysis.
The NTSB is working with the Federal Aviation Administration, Bell Helicopter, and Rolls-Royce to determine the cause of the crash. The helicopter had undergone a major inspection on March 1 and had completed seven tour flights before the fatal incident occurred during its eighth flight of the day. Divers from the New York City Police Department are still searching for components of the helicopter like the main rotor, main gear box, tail rotor, and a large portion of the tail boom. Parts of the wreckage will be sent to the NTSB laboratories in Washington for closer examination.
As the investigation continues, safety remains a top priority for the FAA, who will take necessary actions to protect the flying public. The agency is committed to addressing risks in helicopter operations and will convene a safety panel to discuss findings and potential mitigation strategies. The tragic crash has prompted an urgent evaluation of helicopter safety nationwide and highlights the importance of stringent safety measures in aviation. The close collaboration between the FAA, NTSB, and other stakeholders is crucial in ensuring that similar incidents are prevented in the future.
