Hudson Helicopter Crash Sparks FAA Review, Tour Company Closes [WATCH]

A New York City helicopter tour company has shut down operations after a fatal crash that killed six people on Thursday.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New York Helicopter Tours has ceased activity as the agency begins a comprehensive review of the company’s license and safety history, as reported by Fox News.

The announcement came Sunday, just three days after the crash, which occurred when a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV helicopter went down near Jersey City, New Jersey.

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The aircraft, used for sightseeing flights around New York City, broke apart midair and landed upside down in the Hudson River.

BREAKING VIDEO: Moment of deadly helicopter crash in the Hudson river; 4 people were reportedly on-board

pic.twitter.com/UKjocg6dmb

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 10, 2025

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All six individuals onboard were killed, including the pilot, who was a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran, and five members of a Spanish family.

Seankese Johnson, the pilot in the Hudson River helicopter crash, was killed along with Siemens’ CEO, his wife, and their three children.

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— AF Post (@AFpost) April 11, 2025

The passengers were identified as Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children. Divers recovered all six bodies from the water.

Helicopter crashes into Hudson River in New York City, 6 dead @anadoluagency pic.twitter.com/c4k3LWVjYu

— L. Vural Elibol (@vuralelibol) April 11, 2025

The FAA confirmed it will continue supporting the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in its investigation. In a statement, the agency said:

“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. Safety is the FAA’s number one priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public.”

NTSB officials reported Saturday that the aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, nor did any avionics onboard capture flight information that could aid the investigation.

The agency has begun analyzing the helicopter’s flight control system, while NYPD divers are continuing the search for several missing parts of the aircraft.

Recovered components include the main fuselage, cockpit, cabin, front section of the tail boom, horizontal stabilizer finlets, and vertical fin. Investigators plan to send selected parts to NTSB labs in Washington, D.C., for detailed examination.

NTSB stated that the helicopter’s last major inspection was performed on March 1. On the day of the crash, the helicopter had already completed seven tour flights and went down during its eighth.

NEW: The pilot in the Hudson River crash has been identified as Navy SEAL veteran Sean Johnson, according to the Gothamist.

RIP.

Just days before the tragedy, Johnson posted a video of him flying to his Facebook account.

Johnson had recently moved to New York City to further… pic.twitter.com/YgZzDKXCjO

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 11, 2025

The FAA, Bell Helicopter, and Rolls-Royce are assisting with the investigation.

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