New York Helicopter Tours has shut down operations "immediately" following a horrific crash into the Hudson River that killed a family of five and their pilot.
The Bell 206 chopper, operated by New York Helicopter Tours, was on its eighth flight of the day when it broke apart and crashed into the water just off Manhattan.
The pilot, Sean Johnson, a 36-year-old former Navy SEAL who had recently relocated to the city, had radioed the company to report that he needed fuel shortly before the crash.
“He [the pilot] called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive,” said Michael Roth, the helicopter's 71-year-old owner, to The Telegraph.
On board were the pilot and a family of five from Spain: Siemens executive Agustín Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children: Augustin, 10; Mercedes, eight; and Victor, four. All six were confirmed dead.
Eyewitness Max described the moment of impact: “It sounded like a sonic boom so I look up and literally I saw helicopter splitting in two, with the rotor flying off in the sky it was going so fast and it just went straight into the water," per ABC7.
“Nothing came up afterwards; it must have just sunk, and that was it, and then I just waited here, and like five minutes later, we started seeing the police and stuff come. I've never seen anything like that in my life,” he said. “For me, I just thought it was going to be like city noise, like a crash or like maybe like a jet going overhead - I know that's probably not common."
Following the fatal crash, the Federal Aviation Administration announced on Sunday (April 13) that New York Helicopter Tours was to cease operations “immediately".
“New York Helicopter Tours — the company involved in the deadly crash on the Hudson earlier this week — is shutting down their operations immediately,” the FAA tweeted. “We will continue to support NTSB’s investigation. Additionally, the FAA will be launching an immediate review of the tour operator’s license and safety record.”
Company CEO Michael Roth confirmed the shutdown wasn’t voluntary. “It wasn’t my choice, the FAA did that,” he told The New York Post. When asked if the company could reopen, he replied: “Maybe, I don’t know.”
The company said on its website that it was “profoundly saddened” by the crash. “At New York Helicopter Tours, the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew has always been the cornerstone of our operations," adding: "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.”
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the helicopter had no flight recorder and was last inspected on March 1.
In the days following the crash, Merce Montal’s brother, Joan Camprubí Montal, traveled to New York to identify the bodies and lay a wreath at the site.
“We will never forget you. We will keep your smile alive every day of our lives, and I believe that’s the best legacy we can give you,” he said at a press conference. “I want to say they left together, they left without suffering, and they left with a smile on their faces, and that is important to us."
Johnson’s widow, Kathryn, told The Gothamist: “I'm just at loss for words. I don't even know what happened. It's just hard right now.”
Johnson’s friend and former co-pilot, Earl Watters, also mourned his loss publicly. “With a heavy heart, I post this...Thanks to everyone that has reached out to me. Yes, the pilot of the helicopter crash in NY was my Co-Pilot and great friend on Boomer last year, Sean Johnson.
"The world has lost an all-around great person and amazing friend. He definitely changed my life for the better, and I just want to celebrate his life and how he lived. Always and forever a BOOMER crew member, Godspeed Amigo," he added.
The crash has drawn calls for a broader crackdown on tour operators. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who had demanded an immediate shutdown of the company earlier Sunday, welcomed the FAA’s action.
“It is good news that the FAA heeded the call and shut down New York Helicopter’s flights because they were a danger to the public,” he said. “But much work remains to be done.”
Schumer also urged the FAA to conduct more inspections of sightseeing helicopter companies and to examine broader safety issues across the industry.
A spokesperson said it remains unclear how long the company will remain grounded.