by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:10 AM ET, Mon March 19, 2018
After a deadly tourist helicopter crash last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is banning "doors off" helicopter rides that do not have restraints which can be released quickly in case of an emergency.
According to Pix11.com, the FAA issued the new regulations following the deaths of five people who drowned inside a helicopter that crashed in New York City's East River on March 11.
The harnesses used to keep the passengers safely secure inside during the doors-off flights actually restricted them from getting out of the helicopter when it crashed into the water, resulting in their accidental deaths.
FAA officials announced Friday it issued a mandate to helicopter tour operators to control or mitigate the risk associated with harnesses that can't be quickly removed in the case of a crash. Until the changes are implemented, though, doors-off helicopter rides are no longer permitted.
Investigators are looking into the safety training of the helicopter tour pilots and operators following the incident, and the FAA plans to conduct testing to determine the best harnesses for popular open-door photo tours.
The victims were identified as Carla Vallejos Blanco, 29; Brian McDaniel, 26; Trevor Cadigan, 26; Tristan Hill, 29; and Daniel Thompson, 34. The 33-year-old pilot Richard Vance survived the crash.
In total, the FAA revealed this was the third crash in New York City for Liberty Helicopters over the last 11 years.
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