Fatal NYC helicopter crash renews debate over tourism, ‘non-essential’ flights

News of Thursday’s deadly helicopter crash in the Hudson River, which killed six people, has reignited a fractious debate over the use of helicopters for tourism and travel over one of the most densely populated regions on the planet.

The New York City metro area has experienced dozens of helicopter crashes since the 1960s, though they have become less common in the most recent decades, federal data shows. Positioned on heliports between the Hudson and East rivers, choppers are used for thousands of transit and sightseeing flights every year. But a vocal group of residents and lawmakers have long raised concerns about the noise, pollution and fatal threats posed by the helicopters.

On the other side of the debate are Mayor Eric Adams and those who say the flights are part of what makes the city attractive to tourists and business travelers, helping generate economic activity and tax revenue. In an interview on FOX5 on Friday morning, Adams said he did not support banning such helicopter travel.

“We must make sure it’s safe, it’s done correctly and all proper maintenance is in place,” he said. “We should let the investigation go its course.”

But New York state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who represents parts of the West Side of Manhattan, in a statement Thursday called the latest crash “a foreseeable tragedy” and “grim reminder of our worst fears about the dangers of tourist helicopter flights.” He said he would continue pushing for a total ban on “non-essential” chopper flights over Manhattan, arguing they are not sufficiently regulated.

"They are inherently dangerous, when a chopper flies over a densely populated area," Hoylman-Sigal said in an interview Friday. " We have to continue to pressure the [Federal Aviation Administration] to change routes over Manhattan and prohibit non-essential flights from putting so many of us in danger on a daily basis, not to mention the noise aggravation and carbon emissions inherent with chopper use."

City Councilmember Chris Marte, whose district covers the bottom tip of Manhattan — including the Downtown Skyport where officials said the helicopter took off before crashing less than 20 minutes later — also urged federal agencies to take action on the flights.

“Helicopters should be reserved for emergency response, essential news coverage and public safety operations — not sightseeing or luxury travel,” he said. “While now is a moment for grief, it is also a moment for serious reflection and urgent policy change."

New Yorkers beyond Manhattan have likewise complained about tourist helicopter flights. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, who represents Staten Island and parts of South Brooklyn, on Friday called for the flights to “be more heavily regulated and restricted, if not [put] to an end entirely,” saying they “frequently pass over [Staten Island] neighborhoods at all hours of the day.”

In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul said the crash was “heartbreaking” and expressed condolences for the victims. A spokesperson for her office said the governor would review legislation to ban the choppers if it passes out of the state Legislature.

The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA said they were investigating the crash, which killed the pilot as well as Agustin Escobar — a Spanish CEO at global technology conglomerate Siemens — and his family, according to the company. Witnesses told Gothamist they heard a loud boom before the helicopter fell into the Hudson River near Jersey City, and videos posted to social media showed it falling apart in midair.

The pilot was identified as 36-year-old Sean Johnson by his wife Kathryn Johnson, who told Gothamist in an interview Friday that he had recently moved to New York City to continue his career in aviation and was a Navy veteran. He also previously worked on a TV show and as a celebrity bodyguard, but "always wanted to fly," she said.

Officials late Thursday said the main part of the vehicle had been recovered from the river, though other major pieces still had to be recovered, with a 1,000-foot safety zone in effect around the crash site. Escobar had originally been in the area for a business trip and was joined by his wife and their three children, who were all under 12 years old, to celebrate her 40th birthday, according to Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. Adams said the middle child's birthday was on Friday.

In an interview on CNN on Friday morning, former NTSB Managing Director Peter Goelz said the agency would examine the wreckage and video footage to understand what parts came off the aircraft first and whether it had any kind of mid-air collision before crashing. He said investigators would also review aircraft company records for required safety checks.

“This was clearly a catastrophic failure and very unusual,” Goelz said, describing how video showed the helicopter falling without its tail rotor and main rotors.

Authorities said the helicopter was operated by a company called New York Helicopter, whose CEO Michael Roth declined to comment when reached by phone Friday.

A spokesperson for Skyports, one of the companies that manages the heliport where the helicopter took off, said it was cooperating with investigators.

At least 15 helicopter emergencies have been recorded in the five boroughs since the 1970s, many of which were deadly, according to the Associated Press. In 1977, a chopper sitting atop what’s now the MetLife Building tipped over as it idled, causing the rotor blade to snap and the vehicle to plummet toward the street. Five people were killed.

More recently, a tourist helicopter crashed into the East River in 2018, killing all five passengers on board. It was a “doors-off” flight, which can provide riders better views but make the chopper less safe in emergencies, according to experts.

Shortly after that crash, the FAA placed restrictions on open-door flights nationwide, and New York banned them altogether.

In 2019, a helicopter crashed into a 54-story building in Midtown, killing the pilot.

Charles Lane, Andrew Giambrone and Stephen Nessen contributed reporting. This story has been updated with additional information.