New York Helicopter Tours, the company which operated the Bel 206 helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River in New York on 10th April has been issued an ’emergency grounding order’ by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA revealed the decision was also due to the company’s director of operations being fired, reporting:
“The immediate firing of the Director of Operations raises serious safety concerns because it appears Mr. Roth retaliated against Mr. Costello for making the safety decision to cease operations during the investigations”
A review of the company’s operations, known as Certificate Holder Evaluation Program (CHEP) will reveal whether the operator complied with regulations set, while managing safety and looking into possible hazards and safety risks.
The victims of the crash included pilot Seankese Johnson, a 36-year-old U.S Navy Veteran. As well as Spanish tourist family, Agustin Escobar, Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their children: Agustín, 10, Mercè, 8 and Víctor, 4.
Agustin Escobar was CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility and his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal worked as Global Commercialisation Manager at Siemens Energy. The family had arrived in New York for their holiday on the same day as the incident.
FAA to hold a ‘helicopter safety panel’
A panel reported on X to be held in two day’s time is to ‘discuss the findings, risks, and additional mitigation options’.
‘Safety is the FAA’s number one priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public’
The National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
