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The Federal Aviation Administration said it suspected the firing
was retaliation for a safety decision.
“The FAA is taking this action in part because after the
company’s director of operations voluntarily shut down flights,
he was fired,” acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau said on X.
New York Helicopter Tours' sightseeing helicopter broke apart in
midair and plunged into the Hudson River Thursday, killing five
tourists from Spain and the pilot.
Rocheleau said the agency also began a comprehensive review of
the company’s operations. The review is designed to determine
whether an operator complies with regulations and effectively
manages safety, and identifies hazards and risks.
The victims included passengers Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife,
Mercč Camprubí Montal, 39, and their three children, Victor, 4,
Mercedes, 8, and Agustin, 10. The pilot was Seankese Johnson,
36, a U.S. Navy veteran who received his commercial pilot’s
license in 2023. The crash has renewed safety concerns about the
popular sightseeing flights.
The company's director of operations, Jason Costello, agreed on
Sunday to voluntarily halt flights while the crash was being
investigated. But 16 minutes after Costello sent an email to the
FAA, the company's chief executive officer sent a separate email
to the agency saying he did not authorize the halt. The CEO,
Michael Roth, also said Costello was no longer an employee,
according to the FAA order.
“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 investigation,” read the document.
The FAA in its order said the company now lacks a required
director of operations.
An email seeking comment was sent to Roth.
Also Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board said
divers found key components of the Bell 206 L-4 helicopter as
they wrapped up recovery efforts in the river. New York City
police divers working with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and
Jersey City’s Office of Emergency Management recovered and
secured the main rotor system and the tail rotor system, which
are expected to provide clues about the crash.
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