The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday ordered operators and pilots to cease all “doors-off” flights on aircraft that don't have quick-release restraints — a move that comes less than a week after five passengers drowned when they became trapped in their crashed tour helicopter on the East River. For now, the FAA has banned "doors off" flights that use restraints that cannot be easily released, which apparently played a significant role in the deaths of five passengers when a Eurocopter AS350 crashed into the East River on Sunday. “So these harnesses had to be cut and removed in order to get these folks off of this helicopter, which was upside-down at the time and completely submerged.”

Carla Vallejos Blanco, 29; Brian McDaniel, 26; Trevor Cadigan, 26; Tristan Hill, 29; and Daniel Thompson, 34, all died due to accidental drowning, according to the medical examiner. Liberty Helicopters describes itself as “the largest and most experienced helicopter sightseeing and charter service in New York City,” with a fleet of 10 Airbus helicopters.
The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States restricts "doors off" aircraft flights following a helicopter crash that killed 5 people.