NEW YORK—Following a helicopter crash in the East River on Tuesday, which left one person dead and four injured, politicians are calling for a total ban on helicopter travel in New York City air corridors.
U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, state Sen. Daniel Squadron and others had proposed a ban earlier this year due to complaints from residents about excessive noise.
“Yet another terrible tragedy involving a helicopter should send us a clear message in flashing neon lights,” Nadler stated in a press release. “Sightseeing and nonessential helicopters are dangerous, unnecessary, and not worth it. We have been calling for more oversight of our air corridors for years, with only modest improvements to assuage our fears. Let us once and for all ban these helicopters from Manhattan’s and Brooklyn’s dangerous air corridors. It shouldn’t take more senseless tragedy to come to this obvious conclusion.”
One of the passengers, Sonia Marra from Sydney, Australia, was celebrating her 40th birthday on the day of the crash. Photo Caption(s) & Photo Location(s)
