A New York helicopter tour lasts 15 to 30 minutes. Under the routes, it repeats all day. Here is what the flight looks and sounds like from the ground, and how to get the same view without it.
On an average flying day, flights that are as loud as a conversation (60 dBA or more) somewhere in the neighborhood:
On April 10, 2025, a Bell 206 helicopter on a sightseeing flight broke up in the air and crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City, killing all six people aboard. The FAA suspended the operator three days later. The NTSB investigation (case ERA25MA171) is still open.
Sources: NTSB investigation ERA25MA171 NTSB update, April 14, 2025
In 2016 New York City cut tourist flights from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport by half, about 30,000 flights a year, and tour operators agreed to stop Sunday flights there and to stay away from Governors Island.
Source: NYCEDC announcement
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Resident-led group working to end nonessential helicopter flights over Hudson County. Made the video on this site.
Yes. About 25 helicopters a day fly directly over Hoboken, New Jersey, and 139 a day are as loud as a conversation (60 dBA or more) somewhere in the city. Tours fly the same few routes all day, so the same neighborhoods hear them over and over.
Yes. Staten Island Ferry: Free, around the clock, about 25 minutes each way from Lower Manhattan, passing the Statue of Liberty and the whole harbor skyline.
From Thursday, April 30, 2026 to Sunday, September 6, 2026, on an average flying day about 297 helicopter flights used the 11 heliports and airports around New York City, at least 125 of them sightseeing tours.
On April 10, 2025, a Bell 206 helicopter on a sightseeing flight broke up in the air and crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City, killing all six people aboard. The FAA suspended the operator three days later. The NTSB investigation (case ERA25MA171) is still open.
Averages are per flying day: 116 days from Thursday, April 30, 2026 to Sunday, September 6, 2026, leaving out 11 days when bad weather grounded most tours and 2 days with incomplete data.