In a recent statement, New York Senator Chuck Schumer urged federal authorities to revoke the operating permits of the helicopter tour company involved in the tragic midair incident over the Hudson River. This incident resulted in the loss of a family of five from Spain, along with the pilot, a Navy SEAL veteran. Schumer emphasized the need for the company, New York Helicopter Tours, to cease all flights until the National Transportation Safety Board completes its investigation into the fatal crash. Additionally, Schumer called on the Federal Aviation Administration to enhance safety inspections for other helicopter tour companies, alleging that some prioritize profits over safety.
The victims of the crash included Agustin Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubà Montal, and their three children, Victor, Mercedes, and Agustin, as well as pilot Seankese Johnson. Schumer stressed the importance of preventing such tragedies from occurring in the future and criticized the history of fatal incidents involving helicopter tour companies in New York City.
The crash has reignited concerns about the safety of sightseeing helicopter tours in New York, a popular attraction for tourists seeking aerial views of iconic landmarks. Over the past twenty years, multiple accidents involving commercial sightseeing helicopters have resulted in fatalities due to various factors such as mechanical failures, pilot errors, and collisions.
The president of New York Helicopter Tours, Michael Roth, has not responded to inquiries, but the company stated its cooperation with the investigation. In light of Schumer’s push for increased oversight, the Eastern Region Helicopter Council defended the industry’s existing regulations, assuring its commitment to working with leaders to ensure safety and sustainability.
Critics have long advocated for restrictions on nonessential helicopter flights in New York City, with limited success. Following a cap on annual flights from Manhattan heliports in 2016, some operators relocated to New Jersey. In a separate incident in 2018, a fatal crash in the East River raised further safety concerns when a passenger’s equipment led to engine failure.
The exact cause of the recent crash remains under investigation, with efforts continuing to locate key components of the helicopter to determine what transpired.
