FAA Grounds New York Helicopter Charter Company

The helicopter was operated by New York Helicopter Inc., a Part 135 operation that provides aerial tours of the New York and New Jersey areas.

The accident happened on the afternoon of Thursday, April 10, when a flight of a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger (N216MH) took off on a sightseeing flight with a pilot and five passengers. 

Multiple videos of the accident have been circulated on social media and shared by news outlets. Views from multiple angles appear to show the top rotor blade separating from the aircraft as it is over water. The helicopter appears to be shedding parts over the water, then the cabin strikes the water inverted. Emergency responders from both New York and New Jersey were on scene immediately, but the crash was not survivable.

According to the emergency order from the FAA, the agency is taking this action in part because it appears that the company's director of operations, Jason Costello, was fired after he voluntarily shut down flights.

"On April 13, 2025, the FAA requested via telephone to Mr. Jason Costello, the director of operations of [New York] Helicopter, that [New York] Helicopter cease operations due to safety concerns until the FAA and NTSB investigations in the above-referenced crash were complete,” the order read. “Approximately 30 minutes after the above-referenced telephone call, Mr. Costello confirmed via email to the FAA that [New York] Helicopter would cease operations until the above-referenced investigations were complete. Sixteen minutes after the above-referenced email, Mr. Michael Roth, the chief executive officer of [New York] Helicopter, communicated via email to the FAA the following: Mr. Roth did not authorize a cessation of operations by [New York] Helicopter, and Mr. Costello, who sent the above-referenced communication, was no longer an employee of [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 order continues that, with the firing of Costello, "[New York] Helicopter does not have a qualified person serving in the position of director of operations."

As a result, New York Helicopter violated 14 C.F.R. § 119.69(a)(1), which states: "Each certificate holder must have sufficient qualified management and technical personnel to ensure the safety of its operations. Except for a certificate holder using only one pilot in its operations, the certificate holder must have qualified personnel serving in the following or equivalent positions:...director of operations.

“The acting FAA Administrator per 49 U.S.C. § 44709(b)(1)(A) may issue an order amending, modifying, suspending, or revoking any part of a certificate issued under 49 U.S.C. chapter 447 if the acting administrator decides after conducting a reinspection, reexamination, or other examination that safety in air commerce or air transportation and the public interest require that action.”

The order also states acting FAA administrator Chris Rocheleau “has determined that there is a reasonable basis to question whether NY Helicopter possesses the qualifications necessary to hold its air-carrier certificate and that safety in air commerce or air transportation and the public interest require the suspension of the above-referenced air-carrier certificate until the qualifications of NY Helicopter can be established. The acting administrator further finds that an emergency requiring immediate action exists with respect to safety in air commerce or air transportation."

The FAA has begun a comprehensive review of the company's operations known as a certificate holder evaluation program (CHEP). The review will focus on the operator's compliance with regulations, safety practices, the identification of hazards and risks, and policies and procedures for their mitigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident. A preliminary report should be available within 10 days.