Sightseeing helicopter makes an emergency landing at New Jersey cargo port

Pilot reports possible engine trouble; Port Authority reports no injuries

A New York City sightseeing helicopter on a maintenance flight made an emergency landing on a road at the Port Jersey Marine Terminal in Bayonne, New Jersey, on Tuesday, across the Hudson River from Manhattan, after the pilot reported possible engine trouble. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported no injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Bell 206L-4 helicopter came down at about 8:55 a.m. on a road at the terminal, with two people aboard.

In a recording of the air traffic control audio, the pilot can be heard saying “mayday, mayday, mayday” and “we need to land outside of the airport.”

The Port Authority said the helicopter landed several minutes later, just outside of the container terminal.

Video of the scene shows part of the helicopter’s tail sitting on the road about 30 feet (9 meters) from the aircraft, which was manufactured in 1999, according to FAA records. Messages seeking comment were left for FlyNYON, the helicopter’s operator.

Last year, a Bell 206L-4 sightseeing helicopter plummeted into the Hudson River, killing all 6 people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board said the remains of several geese were found on the helicopter, suggesting it may have struck several birds before crashing.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General announced an audit of sightseeing helicopter regulations, citing “longstanding concerns regarding the industry’s safety and whether the current regulatory framework provides adequate safeguards.”

Assistant Inspector General Marshall Jackson said that since 2008 there have been at least 58 helicopter crashes involving tourist helicopters in the U.S., including 11 that were fatal.