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The FAA issued its order against New York Helicopter Charter Inc. Monday, April 14, following the crash that killed six people, including three children, on Thursday, April 10.
"The FAA is taking this action in part because after the company’s director of operations voluntarily shut down flights, he was fired," Chris Rocheleau, acting FAA Administrator said.
Jason Costello, the director of operations at New York Helicopter agreed to cease operations after speaking with the FAA on Sunday, April 13, the agency said. Minutes after the conversation with Costello, Michael Roth, the CEO of NY Helicopter told the FAA he did not authorize the cessation of operations and that Costello was now fired, the agency said.
"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 wrote in its emergency order.
With the firing of Costello, "NY Helicopter does not have a qualified person serving in the position of Director of Operations," the FAA said, noting the company was in violation of federal law.
The chopper was carrying three adults, including Agustin Escobar, his wife, Mercè Montal, and their three young children when it lost control shortly after turning at the George Washington Bridge to fly along the New Jersey shoreline, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
Escobar was a CEO of rail technology at Siemens. The pilot was also killed in the crash.
Crews recovered all six bodies from the water. Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two juveniles were declared dead at Jersey City Hospital, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said.
If NY Helicopter fails to surrender its air-carrier certificate, it faces fines of up to $17,062 a day.
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