NY Lawmakers Seek Helicopter Safety Boost After Hudson Crash

Bipartisan bill aims to hold choppers to same standards as commercial planes

Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:01pm

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A photorealistic painting of a lone helicopter parked on a helipad, with the city skyline visible in the background. The scene is bathed in warm, golden light and deep shadows, creating a melancholic, cinematic mood.As lawmakers push for stricter helicopter safety rules, a somber reminder of the tragic cost of lax regulation lingers over the New York skyline.NYC Today

A bipartisan group of U.S. congressmembers has introduced a bill that would raise safety standards in the helicopter industry, one year after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing the pilot and a family of five visiting from Spain. The Helicopter Safety and Parity Act would tighten requirements on visibility, cruising altitude, and pilot training for commercial helicopters.

Why it matters

Helicopter safety has long been a contentious issue in the New York City area, with repeated emergencies and crashes over the decades. This latest legislation is the latest attempt by lawmakers to rein in the industry and improve safety standards, following the high-profile Hudson River crash that killed several tourists.

The details

The bill introduced by Rep. Jerry Nadler and others would eliminate a regulatory loophole that allows helicopters taking off and landing from the same port and traveling less than 25 miles to avoid the same safety standards as commercial airplanes. It would require all commercial helicopters to adhere to stricter visibility, altitude, and training requirements.

  • The bill was introduced on April 11, 2026, exactly one year after the Hudson River helicopter crash that killed 6 people.
  • The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the Hudson River crash is still ongoing.

The players

Rep. Jerry Nadler

A U.S. Congressman representing parts of Manhattan, who is leading the effort to introduce the Helicopter Safety and Parity Act.

Joan Camprubi Montal

A relative of the Spanish tourists killed in the Hudson River helicopter crash, who joined Nadler at the press conference to support the new safety legislation.

Melissa Elstein

A representative of the advocacy group Stop the Chop, which has long pressed for a ban on nonessential helicopter flights in New York City.

Michael Roth

The former owner of New York Helicopter Tours, which was forced to close after the Hudson River crash.

Nicole Malliotakis

A Republican U.S. Congressman supporting the Helicopter Safety and Parity Act.

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What they’re saying

“The impact of their untimely deaths has reverberated far beyond this site and has brought much needed attention to the acute necessity of increased safety for helicopters.”

— Rep. Jerry Nadler, U.S. Congressman

“We want to keep their memories alive. And we believe the best way to do that is by strengthening the safety standards for sightseeing helicopters. No other family should have to experience the loss of family that we experienced.”

— Joan Camprubi Montal, Relative of Hudson River crash victims

“If there was ever a question of anything being wrong, I would immediately ground the aircraft.”

— Michael Roth, Former owner, New York Helicopter Tours

What’s next

The Helicopter Safety and Parity Act faces an uphill battle to pass, with only 10 of the 435 members of Congress co-sponsoring the bill so far. The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the Hudson River crash is still ongoing.

The takeaway

This latest legislative effort to improve helicopter safety in New York City highlights the longstanding challenges in regulating the industry, which has resisted previous attempts at stricter oversight. The Hudson River crash tragedy has renewed calls for change, but getting new safety standards enacted remains an uphill battle against industry opposition.