FAA Shuts Down Tour Company After Horrific NYC Helicopter Crash

“Profits over people”: Schumer slams industry as families grieve deadly Hudson River crash

New York’s helicopter tourism industry is facing its most serious reckoning in years after a horrific crash last Thursday killed a Spanish family of five and their pilot in the Hudson River. On Sunday night, the Federal Aviation Administration pulled the plug on New York Helicopter Tours, ordering the company to shut down operations immediately as a full-scale investigation gets underway.

“This isn’t just a tragedy—it’s a systemic failure,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who had demanded earlier in the day that the tour operator be grounded. “Too many of these companies are cutting corners, chasing profits, and gambling with human lives.”

The FAA confirmed that it is launching an urgent review of the company’s safety practices and license, in coordination with the National Transportation Safety Board. In a statement, the agency made its priorities clear: “Safety is the FAA’s number one priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public.”

The crash claimed the lives of Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39, and their three children, ages 4, 8, and 10. The pilot, Sean Johnson, 36, was a U.S. Navy veteran who had only recently earned his commercial license.

“This family came to New York for joy and wonder. Instead, they were dropped into the river like debris,” said Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who has been campaigning against non-essential helicopter flights for years. “How many more must die before Congress acts?”

The accident happened just off Lower Manhattan—mere blocks from the World Trade Center—renewing long-standing fears over the safety of sightseeing helicopters, which buzz daily above crowded parks, riverside walkways, and high-rise apartments.

Mayor Eric Adams insisted hours after the crash that “helicopters are safe and part of the New York experience.” But his comments have sparked backlash among residents and safety advocates, many of whom argue that the risk far outweighs the spectacle.

“This isn’t a theme park. It’s a densely populated city,” said Remi Adeleke, a former Navy SEAL and close friend of pilot Sean Johnson. “Sean was one of the most capable men I knew. If even he couldn’t prevent this crash, what does that tell you about the system?”

Since 2005, more than 20 people have died in similar crashes linked to tour operators in New York—often involving mechanical issues or pilot error. Despite public outcry, federal reforms have stalled.

In 2016, New York City capped departures from Manhattan’s heliports at 30,000 flights per year. Many companies simply relocated across the river to New Jersey to skirt the restrictions.

In 2018, five people were killed in a separate crash on the East River during an “open-door” flight after a passenger’s harness accidentally triggered an emergency fuel shutoff. That case led to calls for banning those risky photo-op flights entirely—calls that were never fully answered.

Sunday’s announcement from the FAA comes amid mounting pressure not only from lawmakers like Schumer, but also grieving families and frustrated New Yorkers who say they’ve seen enough.

Industry representatives, meanwhile, are on the defensive. The Eastern Region Helicopter Council—an industry group—claimed that New York’s sightseeing flights are “already held to the most stringent of regulations” and contribute $78 million annually to the city.

“We stand ready to work with leaders on safety,” the group said in a statement. But critics remain unconvinced.

“Stop spinning,” said Schumer. “Lives are worth more than skyline selfies.”

The search for answers continues. As of Sunday night, dive teams were still combing the river for key helicopter components—including the rotor and gearbox—that could shed light on what caused the chopper to plummet.

A full report from the NTSB could take months, but many say the time to act is now.

“There’s no going back for this family,” said Brewer. “But there better be a way forward that doesn’t involve ignoring this anymore.”