Kearny, New Jersey, has gone to court to try to halt some of the tourist helicopter traffic around New York City, saying those tour flights were never authorized to use a local heliport.
For residents living beneath those flight paths, the dispute is about more than sightseeing — it is about whether a business can keep operating in a way local officials say disrupts sleep, rattles neighborhoods, and raises safety concerns, as Gothamist reported.
Here's what to know
In its lawsuit, Kearny names sightseeing operator FlyNYON, HHI Heliport, and River Terminal Development, which owns the heliport site.
Kearny argues that local zoning approvals did not allow tourist flights and that the facility is not staying within conditions HHI Heliport CEO Jeff Hyman previously claimed it would follow.
The complaint alleges that nearly one-quarter of takeoffs and landings happen outside the hours Hyman said the facility would keep.
At a press conference, Kearny Mayor Carol Jean Doyle summarized the town's position.
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"The owner of the heliport, under oath, said there would be no tourist helicopters. That has been totally ignored," she asserted.
More background
Kearny filed the case in Hudson County Superior Court, with Hudson County and Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, and Union City joining through a shared services agreement that funds the litigation.
Together, the municipalities and county want a temporary restraining order that would confine takeoffs and landings to between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. and bar helicopter tours from operating out of the heliport.
The lawsuit adds to a years-long clash over sightseeing helicopters and the communities on both sides of the Hudson River that live with them.
Local governments are casting the issue as both a zoning dispute and a quality-of-life problem.
Even after a fatal crash over the Hudson in 2025, the industry has not changed much.
What's being done?
The key request before the court is an order that would shorten the heliport's operating hours and keep sightseeing tours from flying there.
Requests for comment from FlyNYON, HHI Heliport, and River Terminal Development went unanswered.
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy described the suit as an effort to defend residents.
"We're here today for all the citizens. All the kids that get woken up in the morning, all the seniors, all the people that have to look out a window and see these helicopters hovering dangerously."
Where can I learn more?
These stories explore the broader fight over low-altitude flights and urban aviation. They look at public backlash to helicopters and private jets, as well as a push to bring electric air taxis into major cities.
• In California, residents blasted a proposal for flying billboard helicopters over major cities.
• In San Diego, neighbors pushed back as private jet traffic stirred debate near the airport.
• In Chicago, United and Archer pressed ahead with electric air taxi plans for short city trips.
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