On board were six people, including 49-year-old Agustín Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three young children — two sons, aged 4 and 11, and a daughter who was set to celebrate her 9th birthday. The pilot was later identified as 36-year-old Seankese Johnson, a decorated former Navy SEAL, according to city officials.

Halting all operations

The helicopter involved in the incident — a Bell 206 — was part of the New York Helicopter Tours fleet, known for offering expensive sightseeing flights over Manhattan. Before Thursday’s tragedy, it had completed countless tours above the city skyline.

Now, following the deadly crash, the company at the center of the disaster is shutting down all operations immediately, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Sunday.

The FAA also confirmed it is launching a full review of New York Helicopter Tours’ safety