A fatal sightseeing helicopter crash on New York’s Hudson River, which killed six people—including a pilot and a Spanish family of five—has intensified demands to ban non-essential helicopter traffic in the region. Advocacy group Stop the Chop labelled the incident “entirely predictable,” citing aging aircraft and a history of accidents linked to tourism flights.
Outdated Fleet Under Fire
The Bell 206 helicopter involved in Thursday’s crash was 21 years old, emblematic of what critics call a dangerously outdated fleet. “New York mandates taxi replacements every 5–8 years, yet helicopters twice that age fly unchecked,” said Andrew Rosenthal, chair of Stop the Chop. “This tragedy was preventable. If a rollercoaster killed people every few years, it’d be shut down immediately. Why do we tolerate ‘joy rides’ in the sky?”
Witnesses reported the aircraft disintegrating mid-air before plunging into the river. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause.
A Pattern of Tragedy
The crash adds to a grim tally: over 38 helicopter-related deaths in NYC since 1977, including a 2009 mid-air collision (9 fatalities) and a 2018 East River crash (5 deaths). Stop the Chop has documented numerous non-fatal incidents, arguing that tourism flights from Manhattan’s three public heliports pose unnecessary risks.
Profit vs. Safety Debate
Heliports generate $2.7 million annually from operators running 42,000+ sightseeing trips. Rosenthal urged Mayor Eric Adams to shutter the downtown Manhattan heliport immediately: “One pen stroke could end this. Essential flights like EMS or news can stay—tourist rides aren’t worth the cost in lives.”
Adams’ Defence of Tourism
The mayor acknowledged safety concerns but emphasized tourism’s economic role. “65 million visitors came last year—aerial tours are part of NYC’s appeal,” he said on Good Day New York. “The focus must be on rigorous maintenance and safety protocols, not outright bans.”
Advocates, however, remain unconvinced. “This will happen again unless we act,” Rosenthal warned. “How many more crashes will it take?”
Investigations into the crash continue as calls for regulatory overhaul grow louder.
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