Dear Mayor Adams and President Kimball,
I write today with sorrow, frustration, and a deep sense of urgency following the tragic helicopter crash yesterday that claimed six lives — three of them children. The heartbreaking loss suffered by this family visiting our city is beyond comprehension, and it is a moment that demands not only our condolences, but our action. This crash is a painful reminder of the high stakes involved in allowing sightseeing helicopters to operate in one of the most densely populated and complex airspaces in the world, and shows that this industry needs substantially more oversight and regulation to ensure the safety of New Yorkers.
I have long been opposed to non-essential helicopter traffic from city-owned assets, and I am eager to learn the results of the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration’s investigation into what caused this tragedy. The recurrence of serious safety incidents in this industry — including previous crashes and near-misses — makes it abundantly clear: we must not wait for another tragedy before taking decisive steps to protect the public.
That is why I am calling for the City and New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to:
- Immediately and indefinitely suspend all nonessential tour flights operating out of the Downtown Manhattan Heliport and the East 34th Street Heliport. These flights offer no public utility, yet they carry enormous risks — to passengers, to workers, and to New Yorkers on the ground. They contribute to noise pollution, reduce air quality, and, as we saw yesterday, can result in catastrophe.
- Immediately undertake a thorough review of the helicopter models permitted to operate out of city-run heliports. The City must ensure that only models with the strongest safety records and the most rigorous inspection standards are authorized. This is especially critical at a time when there are very real concerns about the F.A.A.’s ability to continue to enforce federal safety standards for aircraft due to personnel changes and federal funding cuts. The public has a right to know what types of helicopters are flying above them — and to trust that those aircraft are safe.
- Establish an immediate requirement that any operator using City-owned heliports provide regular documentation proving that its aircraft are maintained to the highest safety standards as required by the F.A.A. — and that those records be subject to audit and public disclosure. It is deeply troubling that there is no requirement for helicopter operators to submit certifications to the City that helicopters are being properly maintained. It is my understanding that it is the helicopter company and operator’s responsibility to conduct this work, but absent certification with the City there is no way to ensure that it is happening. In a sector where safety must be paramount, the lack of this basic accountability is unacceptable.
For years, New Yorkers have raised valid concerns about the helicopter tourism industry, and too often their voices have been ignored. Yesterday’s tragedy underscores the cost of inaction. I am ready to work with you, with City agencies, and with our communities to implement immediate safety reforms and to re-evaluate the long-term role of helicopter tourism in New York City. But we cannot delay. The time to act is now.\
Sincerely,
Mark Levine
Manhattan Borough President