• New York Helicopter Tours ceases operations following a Hudson River crash that killed six.
• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calls for revocation of the company's operating license.
• The FAA will review the company’s safety record and support ongoing NTSB investigations.
• All victims included a family from Spain and the helicopter's pilot, a Navy veteran.
• This incident reignites safety concerns surrounding NYC's helicopter tour industry.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced the immediate shutdown of New York Helicopter Tours following a tragic accident in the Hudson River that claimed six lives, including a family from Spain and the pilot, Sean Johnson, a 36-year-old Navy veteran, according to Indiatimes.

This decision by the FAA comes swiftly after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged federal authorities to revoke the company's operating permits due to the crash, which occurred shortly after the helicopter took off from Manhattan, according to The Hill.

The FAA stated they will conduct a comprehensive review of New York Helicopter Tours' operating license and safety record while collaborating with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the ongoing investigation into the crash, as reported by ABC News.

All six individuals aboard the helicopter, which broke apart midair, died in the incident, including Agustin Escobar, a senior executive at Siemens, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three children aged 4, 8, and 10, according to Newsweek.

Schumer criticized the helicopter tour industry, asserting that regulatory loopholes contribute to persistently poor safety records among operators. “We know there is one thing for sure about New York City’s helicopter tour companies: they have a deadly track record,” he stated during a press conference, according to Los Angeles Times.

The NTSB revealed that, alarmingly, the helicopter was not equipped with flight recorders or any onboard avionics that could assist in the investigation. This fact raises questions about safety compliance within the industry, highlighting a need for stricter regulations moving forward, as noted by Business Insider.

In response to these events, several aviation industry advocates emphasize that current safety regulations should be adequately upheld, suggesting that the crash should galvanize a broader push for helicopter safety improvements nationwide, as conveyed by The New York Times.