Hudson County joins multicity lawsuit to crack down on tourist helicopter operations
County leaders announced the legal action Tuesday, claiming operators have repeatedly violated local ordinances governing altitude and operating hours. Jersey City, Hoboken, Kearny and Union City are also part of the lawsuit.
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Hudson County has joined a multicity lawsuit aimed at restricting the operations of tourism helicopters that fly over communities along the Hudson River.
County leaders announced the legal action Tuesday, claiming operators have repeatedly violated local ordinances governing altitude and operating hours. Jersey City, Hoboken, Kearny and Union City are also part of the lawsuit.
"We want this company to follow the law," said Hudson County Executive Craig Guy. "Under oath, these company executives testified that they would follow these timeframes and these height frames, and they're working totally outside of that now."
The lawsuit targets Helo Holdings Inc. (HHI), which operates a heliport in Kearny where many sightseeing helicopters depart to fly routes around the Hudson River. The suit claims the helicopters are flying too low and outside of designated hours.
Residents told News 12 the flights have become a constant disruption.
Shivam Jingar, who lives in Jersey City's Heights neighborhood, said that more than 100 helicopters passed over his home Tuesday alone. During a 10-minute interview with News 12 at a nearby park, four helicopters flew overhead.
"It messes up my entire day knowing that today's the day they're going to be flying over," said Jingar.
He said helicopters frequently operate late at night and early in the morning.
"A helicopter will be flying into HHI like 11:30 p.m. and it would shake my house," said Jingar. "A few hours later, 5:30 a.m., 6 a.m., the same thing."
The complaint seeks immediate relief from the HHI helipad and RTC properties, the location of the business.
The lawsuit comes amid ongoing concerns about helicopter safety following a 2025 tourist helicopter crash in the Hudson River that killed six people.
"It was pure luck that that helicopter didn't come down in Hudson County," said Guy.
Jersey City Councilman Tom Zuppa said residents' quality of life and their safety are the major concerns.
"This is a residential neighborhood," said Zuppa. "You see one-, two- and three-story homes with Jersey City families. We can't have the risk here of a helicopter going...having what happened in the river a few years ago."
For residents like Jingar, the lawsuit represents a chance for change after years of frustration.
"We finally have some hope," he said. "We might be in for a battle. I'm not sure."
