New York City Sightseeing Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing After Engine Failure

A sightseeing helicopter made an emergency landing on a pier in Bayonne, New Jersey, just outside New York City, after the pilot reported engine failure Tuesday morning (November 10). According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the FlyNYON-operated Bell 206 helicopter landed at the Port Jersey Port Authority Marine Terminal around 8:55 a.m., just beyond the container terminal. No injuries were reported, and both people onboard were confirmed safe by first responders at the scene.

The helicopter had taken off from Kearny, New Jersey, and was flying over water toward Brooklyn when the pilot issued a mayday call. According to CNN, the pilot stated, "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. We have low RPMs, we need to land outside the airport... we have an engine out… we’re going to land at Bayonne piers."

Air traffic control audio from atc.com indicated that the flight was a maintenance mission with two people on board. Video from the scene showed the helicopter's main cabin intact, but the tail was ripped off and hanging from a nearby fence, according to News 12 New Jersey. Debris was scattered nearby, though there was no fire.

Port Authority police, Bayonne police, and the US Coast Guard responded to the emergency. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and will conduct a full investigation into the cause of the engine failure, as noted by the Port Authority.

Officials have not released further details about the investigation, and FlyNYON did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The pier remains under the supervision of the Port Authority as federal agencies begin their inquiry into the incident.