A tragic helicopter crash in New York that claimed the lives of six individuals, including a pilot and a family of five Spanish tourists, has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to announce the immediate shutdown of the tour company involved, New York Helicopter Tours. Following calls from New York senator Chuck Schumer to revoke the company’s operating permits, the FAA will be reviewing its licence and safety record.

The passengers killed in the crash were identified as Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, 39, and their three children, Victor, Mercedes, and Agustin. The pilot, Seankese Johnson, 36, a US Navy veteran with a commercial pilot’s licence, also tragically lost his life in the incident. The company has pledged to cooperate with authorities during the investigation.

This recent crash has reignited concerns about the safety of commercial sightseeing flights in New York, with a history of helicopter incidents in the city’s rivers resulting in the loss of 20 lives over the past two decades. As the investigation unfolds and regulatory scrutiny intensifies, the focus remains on preventing such tragedies from reoccurring in the future.