The Federal Aviation Administration accused the proprietor of the corporate behind final week’s deadly Hudson River helicopter crash of firing its director of operations in obvious retaliation for voluntarily shutting down all copter excursions — and has ordered the corporate grounded.
New York Helicopter should “immediately surrender” its air provider certificates within the wake of Thursday’s lethal crash and its CEO’s obvious determination to sack its director of operations over the weekend, which raised “serious safety concerns,” the FAA’s appearing administrator, Chris Rocheleau, introduced on X.com Monday evening in an “emergency order of suspension.”
In line with the order, company officers known as New York Helicopter’s Director of Operations, Jason Costello, on Sunday requesting the corporate stop operations whereas the FAA and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board investigates the crash.
A helicopter broke aside in midair and crashed upside-down into the Hudson River between Manhattan and the New Jersey waterfront Thursday, April, 10, 2025, killing six individuals on board. (Bruce Wall by way of AP)
Costello agreed, and despatched an e-mail confirming the corporate would voluntarily shut down its flights.
Sixteen minutes later, New York Helicopter CEO Michael Roth despatched the FAA an replace. In line with the order: he didn’t authorize the transfer to stop operations, and Costello now not works for New York Helicopter.
“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,” the FAA’s legal professionals wrote.
Gardiner Anderson / New York Every day Information
Particles from a helicopter crash is seen within the Hudson River in Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Gardiner Anderson / New York Every day Information)
That obvious firing factored into the FAA’s determination to floor New York Helicopter.
“NY Helicopter does not have a qualified person serving in the position of Director of Operations,” the FAA legal professionals wrote. “The continued operations on NY Helicopter pose an unacceptable risk to safety in air commerce.”
Roth didn’t instantly return an e-mail searching for remark.
The Bell 206 helicopter, which had no flight information geared up, was on its eighth tour of the day when it dropped from the sky throughout a sightseeing tour Thursday afternoon, based on the Nationwide Transportation Security Board.
Agustin Escobar, his spouse, Merce Camprubi Montal, with two of their three youngsters are pictured in an undated picture. The household was killed in a helicopter crash on Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Fb)
Spanish vacationers Agustin Escobar, the CEO for rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility; his spouse, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three younger youngsters all died within the crash, as did pilot Seankese “Sean” Johnson, after items of the helicopter, together with the rotor, appeared to interrupt off in midair.
Sean Johnson, the pilot of the helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday, April 10, 2025, with a household of 5 aboard. (Fb)
The helicopter overturned and fell from the sky, hitting the river the wrong way up.
Initially Printed: April 15, 2025 at 2:12 PM EDT
