NYC helicopter excursions have a contentious and lethal past. When a Spanish family boarded a sightseeing helicopter in New York City, the company assured them of “an industry-leading safety record” and a “experience you don’t want to miss.”
The corporation revealed that Agustin Escobar, an IT executive, was one among the six people killed in the April 10 disaster. Escobar’s family, which included three children, perished in the accident along with the pilot of the chopper.
The fatalities garnered international media attention and reignited interest in New York’s contentious helicopter tourist sector.
Each year, the helicopter industry operates more than 30,000 flights over New York City. Despite the high volume, many residents have expressed frustration, calling the constant noise a nuisance—and in rare but tragic cases, some flights have ended in deadly accidents.
One such tragedy left Michael Roth, the CEO of New York Helicopter Tours, “heartbroken.”
Commenting on a video that captured a helicopter crashing into the ocean, Roth told the New York Post, “In three decades in the helicopter industry, I’ve never witnessed anything like this.” He added, “I honestly don’t know what happened. My only guess is it may have hit a bird or there was a failure in the main rotor blades. I really don’t know.”