New York Helicopter Company Involved in Crash had Two Previous Crashes
The New York helicopter company whose aircraft crashed in the East River on Sunday night had previously had two other crashes, one of them also fatal, in the past 11 years, CNN reports.
With a fleet of 10 European-made Eurocopter helicopters, Liberty Helicopters claims to be the "the largest and most experienced helicopter sightseeing and charter service in New York City." The company had crashes in 2007 and 2009.
The first crash occurred in July 2007 when one of Liberty's helicopters was on a tour and had an in-flight separation of a main rotor blade. The aircraft crashed into the Hudson River. According to the National Transportation Safety Board's report, the pilot heard a loud bang and saw gray debris fly off the helicopter. The pilot then landed "soft" on the Hudson. All seven passengers were wearing inflatable life vests in small pouches around their waists, and were later rescued by private boaters. No injuries were reported.
The other crash on August 8, 2009, killed nine people when one of Liberty's helicopters hit a private plane over the Hudson River in New York. The helicopter flew up to the altitude of a Piper PA-32. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the helicopter and private plane were "not aware of each other's positions" because they were communicating on different radio frequencies. The private plane was flying at an altitude of 1,100 feet eight miles out from Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey, where it took off. The NTSB said at the time that the helicopter would have remained a small object in the plane's windshield until about five seconds before collision. The three passengers on the Piper PA-32 and six on the helicopter all perished.
TPG Managing Editor Alberto Riva flew with Liberty Helicopters on the same Eurocopter AS350B2 last October for an open-door photo flight.
Liberty Helicopters uses its aircraft to service other companies, including sightseeing flights through FlyNYON, which acknowledged on Monday that its customers were onboard the helicopter that crashed on Sunday:
Sunday's crash killed all the helicopter's five passengers. According to authorities, the deceased passengers have been identified as Brian McDaniel, a firefighter from Dallas; Trevor Cadigan, 26 years old; Carla Vallejos Blanco, a 29-year-old tourist from Argentina; Daniel Thompson and Tristan Hill, both employees with the helicopter company.
The pilot, who was able to free himself from the helicopter and survive, thinks a passenger's bag might have accidentally hit the emergency fuel shutoff switch, causing the engine to stop, The Wall Street Journal reports. Before the crash, the pilot called in a distress call to Air Traffic Control. “Mayday, mayday, mayday,” he said on the recording, according to the Journal. “East River, Engine failure.”
Both the NTSB and the FAA said they would be investigating Sunday's helicopter crash.
New York's US Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on the FAA to all suspend Liberty Helicopter flights until the company's safety records can be reviewed and the investigations are complete.
In a statement on its website, Liberty said it is "fully cooperating with the FAA and NTSB's investigations," and that the company is "focused on supporting the families affected by this tragic accident."
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.