Deadly Hudson River crash raises fears and concerns over helicopter tourism

At the border of Hoboken and Jersey City people that live there or just walk by caught the crash and rescue on their cellphones.

Lauren Due

Apr 11, 2025, 4:48 PM

Updated 21 hr ago

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Deadly Hudson River crash raises fears and concerns over helicopter tourism
A deadly tourist helicopter crash happened just feet away from a New Jersey neighborhood in a densely populated area.
At the border of Hoboken and Jersey City, people who live there or just walk by caught the crash and rescue on their cellphones.
NTSB news conference on the fatal Hudson River helicopter crash
The accident is now sparking fears and concerns that have already been brought up.
"Of course I'm concerned, I'm concerned about everything," said Idea Kenna of Hoboken. "But outside my home, it's terrible. I'm terrified."
Jersey City mayor and gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop on X says, "This has been an issue we have pushed at the federal level for a decade with no response. This is not the first crash that has happened, and the reality is that the airspace here is too crowded above a densely populated area to allow this. These tourist helicopters should not be allowed and hopefully, this terrible tragedy brings some change so that it will never happen again to any other family."
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop on helicopter crash investigation and tourism flights
According to Fulop, Augustin Escobar was in the U.S. for a business trip. He used the opportunity for a trip to celebrate his wife's 40th birthday with the family.
About two years ago, Rep. Robert Menendez introduced the "Communities Before Air Tourism Act," and another bill last year "Protecting Communities from Helicopter Noise Act."
A bill was introduced in the New Jersey state Legislature 2024 session to prohibit tourist helicopter operations in the state.