Legislators Draft Law to Stop Manhattan Helicopter Flights

Manhattan helicopter flights

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK – According to an online news article published by www.flyingmag.com, a group of New York legislators are pushing new laws to ban non-essential helicopter flight over Manhattan.

Following a recent, bizarre, and potentially catastrophic helicopter accident that happened in Manhattan on a very foggy day, some New York lawmakers want new legislation to prohibit the flight of non-essential helicopters over Manhattan.  These same lawmakers wrote a letter to the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stating that allowing non-essential helicopters to fly over Manhattan is an “intolerable risk to the public.”  Since 1983, there have been at least 30 helicopter accidents over Manhattan, according to CBS News.

The most recent helicopter accident happened near Trump Tower, raising an additional concern that any helicopter could be involved in an act of terror at any given moment.  While the pilot of this helicopter did suffer fatal injuries, no additional people were injured or killed.  However, had this helicopter accident happened in Midtown, the aftermath could have been much worse.  The group of New York lawmakers are threatening to change the laws if the FAA does not crack down and prohibit flight of non-essential helicopters over Manhattan.

Given how New York City is one of the busiest cities in the world, helicopters will have to make adjustments and compromise if new laws prohibit non-essential helicopter flight indefinitely.  Regardless of the inconvenience for helicopter pilots, preventing non-essential helicopters from flying over Manhattan is one way to help reduce the chance of a terrorist attack happening.