US federal aviation regulators have issued an emergency order grounding the helicopter tour company involved in a deadly New York crash.

The order came after the Federal Aviation Administration learned that the company had fired its operations director minutes after he agreed to suspend flights during the investigation.

The FAA said on Monday (local time) it suspected the firing was retaliation for a safety decision.

“The FAA is taking this action in part because after the company’s director of operations voluntarily shut down flights, he was fired,” acting administrator Chris Rocheleau said on X.

New York Helicopter Tours’ sightseeing helicopter broke apart in midair and plunged into the Hudson River last Thursday, killing 49-year-old Siemens executive Agustín Escobar and his family, as well as the pilot.

The other victims were Escobar’s wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, 39, and the couple’s three children, Victor, four, Mercedes, eight and Agustin, 10.

The pilot was Seankese Johnson, 36, a US Navy veteran who received his commercial pilot’s licence in 2023.

Rocheleau said the agency had also started a comprehensive review of the company’s operations.

The review is designed to determine whether an operator complies with regulations and effectively manages safety, and identifies hazards and risks.

“On the topic of helicopter safety broadly: The FAA is already analysing airplane/helicopter hotspots nationwide, and we will be hosting a helicopter safety panel on April 22 to discuss the findings, risks, and additional mitigation options,” the FAA said.

“Safety is the FAA’s No.1 priority, and we will not hesitate to act to protect the flying public.”

Also on Monday, authorities recovered the helicopter’s main rotor and roof structure from the Hudson River. The structure is considered to be a key piece of evidence in the crash.

“Key components of the Bell 206 L-4 helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River last week were recovered Monday, greatly aiding the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the fatal accident,” the NTSB said.

-with AAP