Ney York City Helicopters LLC, a New York-based company running sightseeing tours, ceased operations on April 9, 2025, following a March 2025 crash that killed five passengers.
The accident, involving a Eurocopter AS350 plunging into the East River, was linked to a faulty harness system, per a preliminary NTSB report, sparking lawsuits claiming $50 million. Liberty, operating since 1986 with 20 daily Manhattan skyline tours, announced the closure on its website, citing “unsustainable legal and regulatory pressures.” The firm, which flew 30,000 tourists yearly at $200 per ride, employed 50 staff now facing layoffs.
The crash, New York’s deadliest aviation incident since 2009, led to FAA grounding all Liberty flights, with inspections revealing 15% of its 10-helicopter fleet had maintenance lapses. Mayor Eric Adams, noting tourism’s $60 billion economic boost, called for stricter oversight, while families of victims, including a Texas couple, demanded criminal probes.
The closure leaves rivals like HeliNY to absorb demand, with 2024’s 100,000 heli-tour passengers underscoring the market’s pull. Liberty’s exit, after ferrying stars like Beyoncé, ends a 39-year legacy, raising questions about safety in America’s $1 billion aerial tour industry.