Photo: LEONARDO MUNOZ / AFP / Getty Images
New York Helicopter Tours, the company involved in last week's deadly helicopter crash in New York, is shutting down immediately, as announced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Sunday (April 13). The crash, which occurred on Thursday (April 10), resulted in the deaths of all six people on board, including a family of five from Spain and the pilot, Seankese Johnson, a U.S. Navy veteran.
The helicopter, a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV, crashed into the Hudson River near Hoboken, New Jersey, during its eighth tour flight of the day. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, noting that the helicopter lacked flight data recording equipment. The FAA plans to review the company's license and safety records.
According to CNN, federal officials have previously investigated New York Helicopter Tours.
Recovery efforts continue in the Hudson River, with divers searching for remaining wreckage, including the helicopter's rotor and tail rotor.
The crash has highlighted ongoing safety concerns in the helicopter tour industry, prompting the FAA to host a helicopter safety panel on April 22 to discuss safety recommendations.