Helicopter Crash Leads Hudson County Officials To Blast Helicopter Tourism Industry

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — After six people were killed when a tourist helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in Jersey City side on Thursday, officials in New Jersey blasted the helicopter tourism industry.

UPDATE: Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop Discusses Theories About Crash: Birds, Drones, Mechanical Failure

Jersey City Councilwoman James Solomon on Friday said, "Yesterday’s helicopter crash was a horrific, traumatic experience for our region, and we are immensely grateful to our first responders for addressing the incident and keeping us safe. We mourn the loss of a family and the pilot — and I cannot emphasize enough how disgusting and dismissive New York Helicopter CEO Michael Roth’s response was."

Solomon was referring to a comment Newsday in which Roth said, "I’ve been in this business 30 years. I’m devastated because all the lives, especially children. I’m a father and a grandfather and we would never do anything to jeopardize anyone. ... I don’t want to make any assumptions, but you have to remember: It’s a machine. Sometimes machines break."

" ‘Machines break’ is a hell of a comment considering these people were on his machine," Solomon said in a statement on Friday. "Tourist helicopters are the most accident-prone vehicles in commercial aviation, in part because safety isn’t emphasized and safety management systems just aren’t good enough. That means that folks are taking a chance on their own lives every time they board a tourist helicopter, whether or not they realize it — and this CEO was willing to dismiss the deaths that occurred on his watch as ‘machines breaking.’"

He said he supports legislation in Trenton that would ban tourist choppers from operating on the Hudson River.

Hoboken and Jersey City residents have long complained of noisy and low-flying helicopters, particularly with the number of residential high rises near the waterfronts of both towns.

On Thursday, Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez, who represents Hoboken and Jersey City, said that tourist helicopter companies in the area put profits over people. She said she has gotten complaints about noise and pollution from constituents.

She is a sponsor of A1371, a bill that seeks to ban tourist helicopter flights in the State of New Jersey, she noted.

“We are now unable to look away from the safety concerns these helicopters bring. This is not the first crash and if we don't act now to ban these companies, it will not be the last,” she said. “These companies put profits over safety, and communities like ours are left to pay the price—through sleepless nights, constant noise, and now, the loss of innocent lives.”

Hoboken's Fire Department responded to the crash, as did emergency workers from Jersey City and Manhattan. All six people were pulled out of the crash soon after it occurred, according to reports.

A pilot, as well as two adults and three children who were visiting from Spain, died in the crash, reports confirmed. The family was visiting because Their father had a work trip in Manhattan with his company, Siemens. READ MORE: Helicopter Crashes Into Hudson River In NYC, 6 Reported Dead

They took off from the Manhattan side.

Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez said, “My heart breaks for the families affected by today’s devastating crash,” she said. “No one should lose their life to an avoidable tragedy, especially one that has long been foreseen by residents and community leaders alike.”

An expert noted that responders attending to serious crashes deal with high levels of stress as well. "There’s PTSD, which is very common, and that’s usually triggered by an emergency crisis like that," said Criminal Justice Professor Cathryn Lavery, of Pace University. "Some symptoms may include flashbacks; an exaggerated, startled response to something, all the way through to emotional detachment or survivors' guilt."

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said that first responders from his town and Jersey City attended to the crash. "The city of Hoboken’s Public Safety Department was prepared and ready to respond to today’s helicopter crash on the Hudson River, as our first responders always are.," he said. "I thank our Fire, Police, and EMS personnel for their quick action and professionalism. On behalf of Hoboken, I offer my deepest condolences to the families affected by today's tragic loss."

READ MORE: Hudson River Helicopter Crash Draws Response From Hoboken, Jersey City