NEW YORK CITY, New York: The helicopter tour company involved in a recent crash that killed a pilot and a visiting family from Spain is shutting down immediately, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said this weekend.
In a message posted online, the FAA also said it would quickly review the company's license and safety history.
This decision came shortly after U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer asked federal officials to cancel the company's flying permits.
The crash happened last Thursday when the company's sightseeing helicopter broke apart in the air and fell into the Hudson River. The pilot, a former Navy SEAL, and a family of five from Spain were killed.
Before the FAA announcement, Schumer said at a press conference that the company should stop flying while the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the crash. He also urged the FAA to increase safety checks on other helicopter tour companies, accusing some of putting profits ahead of safety.
The people who died were Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, 39, and their children Victor (4), Mercedes (8), and Agustin (10). The pilot was Seankese Johnson, 36, who had recently become a commercial pilot.
Schumer said, "We can honor these lives by making sure such a tragedy doesn't happen again." He added that some tour companies in New York have a bad safety record.
The crash has raised new concerns about the safety of helicopter tours over New York. These flights give tourists amazing views of the city, including the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center.
In the past 20 years, five other sightseeing helicopters have crashed into the Hudson or East River, killing 20 people due to equipment problems, pilot mistakes, or mid-air crashes.
The company's president, Michael Roth, did not reply to calls or emails. The company said on its website that it is cooperating with investigators.
An industry group, the Eastern Region Helicopter Council, defended the safety of tour companies and said they already follow strict rules. They also said they're willing to work with officials to improve safety and protect the industry.
Some people have tried for years to ban or limit nonessential helicopter flights over the city, but haven't had much success. After New York City limited flights from Manhattan in 2016, many companies moved to New Jersey.
In another tragic accident in 2018, five people died when a helicopter offering "open door" tours crashed in the East River. A passenger's safety strap got caught on a fuel switch, shutting off the engine.
The cause of the latest crash on April 10 is still unknown. Schumer said divers are still searching for key parts of the helicopter that might reveal what went wrong.
