Maintenance Flight Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing on NJ Pier

A sightseeing helicopter made an emergency landing on a New Jersey pier Tuesday morning

A Bell 206L-4 sightseeing helicopter landed on a road at the Port Jersey Marine Terminal in Bayonne around 8:55 a.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The aircraft, which was being used on a maintenance flight, landed near a container terminal across the Hudson River from Manhattan, ABC7 New York reported.

The pilot reported a possible engine issue before the emergency landing, the FAA stated. During the descent, the pilot issued a “mayday, mayday, mayday” call and requested to land outside of the airport, according to air traffic control audio captured by ABC News.

Instagram

Both the pilot and the co-pilot were on board at the time of the incident. No major injuries were reported, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that both individuals were okay, NBC New York reported.

Debris at the Port Jersey Marine Terminal

The landing was forceful enough to cause visible damage to the aircraft. Video from the scene showed the helicopter’s tail rotor sheared off, with the tail section coming to rest on the road approximately 30 feet from the main body of the helicopter, ABC News reported.

WATCH LIVE: Helicopter damaged during incident in Bayonne, New Jersey

Other debris was scattered across the pier following the impact. While it remains unclear if the tail was lost during the landing or prior to it, the aircraft—a Bell 206 manufactured in 1999—remains at the site, according to FAA records cited by ABC News.

The helicopter is operated by FlyNYON, a sightseeing company based in Kearny that provides tours of New York City. As of Tuesday morning, the company had not immediately responded to requests for comment, according to both NBC New York and ABC News.

Maintenance Flight Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing on NJ Pier — Photo: abcnews.com

Safety concerns in the sightseeing industry

This incident occurs as regulators increase oversight of the aerial tourism sector. Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General announced an audit of sightseeing helicopter regulations, citing concerns regarding whether the current framework provides sufficient safety safeguards.

The industry has faced major setbacks in recent years. ABC News noted that last year, a Bell 206L-4 sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, resulting in six fatalities. In that instance, the National Transportation Safety Board found remains of geese on the aircraft, suggesting a bird strike may have been a factor.

AUDIO: NJ helicopter pilot mayday call for emergency landing in Bayonne

Statistical data highlights the ongoing risks associated with these operations. Assistant Inspector General Marshall Jackson stated that since 2008, there have been at least 58 helicopter crashes involving tourist helicopters in the United States, 11 of which were fatal.

The FAA has confirmed it will conduct an investigation into the Bayonne emergency landing to determine the exact cause of the reported engine trouble.