Latest news with #CertificateHolderEvaluationProgram
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FAA grounds helicopter company involved in deadly New York crash
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order grounding the helicopter tour company involved in the deadly crash in New York as federal officials investigate the tragedy. Jason Costello, then-director of operations at New York Helicopter Charter Inc., agreed to shut down operations on April 13 after a Bell 206 helicopter the company operated plunged into the Hudson River, killing six people, according to the FAA. But just sixteen minutes after Costello confirmed this, company CEO Michael Roth fired Costello and told the FAA via email that he did not authorize the halt and that Costello was no longer his employee. 'The immediate firing of the Director of Operations raise serious safety concerns because it appears Mr. Roth retaliated against Mr. Costello for making the safety decision to cease operations during the investigation," FAA officials said in the emergency order, adding that the company no longer has a qualified person serving as director of operations. Roth and someone who answered the phone at New York Helicopter Tours declined to comment when reached by USA TODAY. Attempts to contact Costello were unsuccessful. The helicopter, which is owned by Louisiana-based company Meridian Helicopters LLC, took off at about 3 p.m. April 10 from a heliport in downtown Manhattan for an aerial tour of the city, authorities said. The helicopter crashed about 15 minutes later near Jersey City, New Jersey, officials said. Video of the crash captured the helicopter and a detached rotor descending to the water. The pilot, Seankese Johnson, and passengers Agustin Escobar, his wife and their three children were killed. The crash revived safety concerns about the aerial tourism industry. Helicopter tours in New York have been controversial and in some cases deadly, USA TODAY reported. Records obtained by USA TODAY showed that New York Helicopter Charter Inc. was involved in two earlier safety incidents. The downed helicopter's last major inspection was on March 1, and it completed seven tour flights before the crash, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The FAA is conducting a review, known as a Certificate Holder Evaluation Program, that will determine whether the operator complies with regulations, effectively manages safety, and identifies hazards and risks, Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau said April 14 on X. If the company does not immediately surrender its air-carrier certificate amid the investigation, it could face "further legal enforcement action, including a civil penalty of up to $17,062 a day for each day it fails to surrender the certificate," according to the order. The NTSB also is investigating the crash. Investigators with the agency have met with representatives from New York Helicopter Charter Inc. to review operational records, policies and procedures, safety management systems and the pilot's experience, the agency said April 12. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Aviation experts have told USA TODAY that footage appears to indicate the helicopter's rotor experienced a catastrophic failure. Contributed: Christopher Cann This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FAA grounds operator of helicopter after New York crash kills six
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
FAA grounds helicopter company involved in deadly New York crash
FAA grounds helicopter company involved in deadly New York crash The crash revived safety concerns about the aerial tourism industry. Helicopter tours in New York have been controversial and in some cases deadly. Show Caption Hide Caption Helicopter crash in the Hudson revives call for more regulations Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop is asking the FAA to restrict tourism flights citing an already crowded airspace along the Hudson River. The Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency order grounding the helicopter tour company involved in the deadly crash in New York as federal officials investigate the tragedy. Jason Costello, then-director of operations at New York Helicopter Charter Inc., agreed to shut down operations on April 13 after a Bell 206 helicopter the company operated plunged into the Hudson River, killing six people, according to the FAA. But just sixteen minutes after Costello confirmed this, company CEO Michael Roth fired Costello and told the FAA via email that he did not authorize the halt and that Costello was no longer his employee. 'The immediate firing of the Director of Operations raise serious safety concerns because it appears Mr. Roth retaliated against Mr. Costello for making the safety decision to cease operations during the investigation," FAA officials said in the emergency order, adding that the company no longer has a qualified person serving as director of operations. Roth and someone who answered the phone at New York Helicopter Tours declined to comment when reached by USA TODAY. Attempts to contact Costello were unsuccessful. What happened during the crash? The helicopter, which is owned by Louisiana-based company Meridian Helicopters LLC, took off at about 3 p.m. April 10 from a heliport in downtown Manhattan for an aerial tour of the city, authorities said. The helicopter crashed about 15 minutes later near Jersey City, New Jersey, officials said. Video of the crash captured the helicopter and a detached rotor descending to the water. The pilot, Seankese Johnson, and passengers Agustin Escobar, his wife and their three children were killed. The crash revived safety concerns about the aerial tourism industry. Helicopter tours in New York have been controversial and in some cases deadly, USA TODAY reported. Records obtained by USA TODAY showed that New York Helicopter Charter Inc. was involved in two earlier safety incidents. The downed helicopter's last major inspection was on March 1, and it completed seven tour flights before the crash, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Crash under federal investigation The FAA is conducting a review, known as a Certificate Holder Evaluation Program, that will determine whether the operator complies with regulations, effectively manages safety, and identifies hazards and risks, Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau said April 14 on X. If the company does not immediately surrender its air-carrier certificate amid the investigation, it could face "further legal enforcement action, including a civil penalty of up to $17,062 a day for each day it fails to surrender the certificate," according to the order. The NTSB also is investigating the crash. Investigators with the agency have met with representatives from New York Helicopter Charter Inc. to review operational records, policies and procedures, safety management systems and the pilot's experience, the agency said April 12. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. Aviation experts have told USA TODAY that footage appears to indicate the helicopter's rotor experienced a catastrophic failure. Contributed: Christopher Cann
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
FAA issues emergency order grounding New York Helicopter Charter amid deadly Hudson River crash
New York Helicopter Charter, Inc., has been grounded via an emergency order from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a helicopter operated by the company crashed in the Hudson River last week, killing a family of five and the pilot. The FAA's decision comes after the helicopter company fired its director of operations following his decision to shut down flights. "The FAA is taking this action in part because after the company's director of operations voluntarily shut down flights, he was fired," the FAA said in a statement. 6 Dead, Including 3 Children, After Helicopter Plummets In Hudson River The FAA also announced it is completing a comprehensive review of the company's operations. "The review, known as a Certificate Holder Evaluation Program (CHEP), determines whether an operator complies with applicable regulation and effectively manages safety, and identifies hazards and risks so the FAA and operator can mitigate them," the agency said. Read On The Fox News App The FAA previously announced that it would continue to support the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) investigation into the crash, while also launching an immediate review of the tour operator's license and safety record "The FAA is already analyzing airplane/helicopter hotspots nationwide, and we will be hosting a helicopter safety panel on April 22 to discuss the findings, risks, and additional mitigation options," the FAA added. "Safety is the FAA's number one priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public." The ill-fated New York City tour helicopter – a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV – came apart midair on Thursday afternoon before falling into the water upside down near the shoreline of Jersey City, New Jersey, killing a Spanish family of five and the aircraft's Navy SEAL veteran pilot. 'Everything Is On The Table' As Ntsb Investigates Deadly Hudson River Tour Helicopter Crash The pilot, as well as Siemens executive Agustin Escobar; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal; and their three young children, were pulled from the water by divers and pronounced dead. New York Helicopter Charter's suspension will remain in place until the necessary personnel and safety protocols are in place. The company was also told to surrender its Air Carrier Certificate pending the outcome of the FAA's article source: FAA issues emergency order grounding New York Helicopter Charter amid deadly Hudson River crash
Fox News
15-04-2025
- Business
- Fox News
FAA issues emergency order grounding New York Helicopter Charter amid deadly Hudson River crash
New York Helicopter Charter, Inc., has been grounded via an emergency order from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a helicopter operated by the company crashed in the Hudson River last week, killing a family of five and the pilot. The FAA's decision comes after the helicopter company fired its director of operations following his decision to shut down flights. "The FAA is taking this action in part because after the company's director of operations voluntarily shut down flights, he was fired," the FAA said in a statement. The FAA also announced it is completing a comprehensive review of the company's operations. "The review, known as a Certificate Holder Evaluation Program (CHEP), determines whether an operator complies with applicable regulation and effectively manages safety, and identifies hazards and risks so the FAA and operator can mitigate them," the agency said. The FAA previously announced that it would continue to support the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) investigation into the crash, while also launching an immediate review of the tour operator's license and safety record "The FAA is already analyzing airplane/helicopter hotspots nationwide, and we will be hosting a helicopter safety panel on April 22 to discuss the findings, risks, and additional mitigation options," the FAA added. "Safety is the FAA's number one priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public." The ill-fated New York City tour helicopter – a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV – came apart midair on Thursday afternoon before falling into the water upside down near the shoreline of Jersey City, New Jersey, killing a Spanish family of five and the aircraft's Navy SEAL veteran pilot. The pilot, as well as Siemens executive Agustin Escobar; his wife, Mercè Camprubí Montal; and their three young children, were pulled from the water by divers and pronounced dead. New York Helicopter Charter's suspension will remain in place until the necessary personnel and safety protocols are in place. The company was also told to surrender its Air Carrier Certificate pending the outcome of the FAA's review.
Miami Herald
15-04-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
FAA issues emergency order grounding NYC tour company after fatal helicopter crash
April 15 (UPI) -- The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency order grounding the New York City tour company whose helicopter crashed in the Hudson River last week, killing all six on board. The FAA issued its order Monday as the National Transportation Safety Board announced that divers have recovered the aircraft's main rotor system, which authorities say will shed light on how the Bell 206 helicopter crashed Thursday afternoon into the Hudson. Video of the crash widely circulated online shows debris being ejected into the air as the rotorless helicopter body crashes upside down into the water. The victims have been identified as pilot Seankese Johnson and passengers Agustin Escobar, a senior executive with Siemens, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three young children. The FAA emergency grounding order comes a day after it announced that the helicopter operator, New York City Helicopter Tours, had shut down operations on Sunday. FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau said the agency implemented the order "in part because after the company's director of operations voluntarily shut down flights, he was fired." A comprehensive review of New York City Helicopter Tours' operations, known as a Certificate Holder Evaluation Program, has begun to determine whether it complied with all applicable regulations and effectively managed safety, identified hazards and mitigated risks, Rocheleau said. Meanwhile, the NTSB has been working to retrieve the helicopter wreckage for the river, and said in a statement that divers with the New York Police Department, who were working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Jersey City, were able to recover and secure the helicopter's main rotor system, including the transmission and roof beam, as well as the tail rotor system. "The evidence will be taken to a secure location for further examination," the NTSB said in a statement. It is also calling on members of the public who may have video or photos of any aspect of the incident to send them to witness@ Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
