Hoboken council adopts emergency resolution urging FAA to curb helicopter flights after crash

The Hoboken City Council voted unanimously on an emergency resolution urging the Federal Aviation Administration and federal, state and local officials to curb nonessential helicopter flights over Hoboken and Jersey City following a recent fatal crash and long-running resident complaints about low-flying helicopters.

The resolution’s sponsors said the measure is an urgent response to safety and quality-of-life concerns after a helicopter crash that prompted renewed calls from residents and county and state officials for federal action.

Public commenters and council members told the council that low-altitude helicopter traffic from nearby heliports, particularly Kearny, has become pervasive and hazardous. “After the crash on Monday, we had 319 flights in the New York City area. Out of the 3 New York City airports, 68 of those came from Kearny,” public speaker Corey Davis said. He added: “There are around 27,000 flights a year out of the Kearny Airport,” and said many of those flights pass directly over Hoboken and Jersey City.

Councilman Farina, who discussed the resolution during the meeting, framed it as an emergency. “One of the first speakers came up and spoke about the tragedy ... And this is an emergency that we’re presenting to the council,” he said.

Council members who spoke in favor cited safety risks from low-flying aircraft, noise and the potential for future crashes to affect densely populated neighborhoods, schools and daycare centers. The resolution asks the FAA to immediately prohibit or suspend nonessential sightseeing and tourist helicopter flights over residential areas and asks local, county and state officials to support measures that reduce or reroute such traffic.

The council also directed the city to send the resolution to Governor Murphy’s office, New Jersey legislative leaders and federal lawmakers. The text references pending state legislation (Assembly Bill A1371) that would restrict sightseeing helicopters using New Jersey heliports and notes prior, similar actions by the Hudson County Board of Commissioners. The sponsors said state action alone may not be sufficient because the airspace is federally regulated and urged the FAA to act.

The measure followed an extended public comment period in which residents and advocates described repeated disruptions and expressed fear that a future crash could strike homes or public places.

Votes: the resolution passed with recorded “aye” votes from council members Ciccone, Fisher, Gabor, Zano, Quintero, Ramos, Russo and Doyle.

The resolution directs the city clerk to distribute the council’s action to federal aviation authorities and to local, county and state elected officials and agencies. It does not impose local restrictions on flight operations — those would require federal action or changes at the heliports that operate commuter and sightseeing flights.