Kearny has filed a lawsuit against the operator of a South Kearny heliport, backed by Hudson County and five municipalities that say frequent low-flying helicopter traffic has brought excessive noise and safety fears to neighbourhoods across New Jersey.
The action against Helo Holdings Inc, which operates HHI Heliport on Western Road, was filed in Hudson County Superior Court on Tuesday, September 29. Hudson County has applied to participate as an interested party, while Bayonne, Hoboken, Jersey City and Union City are also supporting the legal challenge.
Residents living beneath the flight paths say helicopters pass overhead throughout the day and night, sometimes hovering at around 300ft. They claim the resulting noise and vibration rattle windows and walls and make it difficult to use balconies, gardens and public spaces.
Local officials said one monitoring session recorded about two dozen helicopters passing overhead in three hours, while one resident reported counting 100 flights in a single day.
Kearny Mayor Carol Jean Doyle said residents had been contacting her daily about aircraft hovering over their homes.
“I can’t even go out on my balcony to have a cup of coffee and a newspaper. The noise is so deafening,” she said.
The lawsuit alleges that HHI’s zoning approval was granted on the understanding that it would not conduct tourist helicopter operations and that flights would be restricted to agreed daytime hours. Officials claim those conditions have since been breached.
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy said the municipalities had spent months attempting to resolve the dispute through meetings with the operator. He said the legal action sought temporary and permanent restrictions requiring the heliport to comply with Kearny’s zoning rules.
“For years, Hudson County has been inundated with the relentless whirring of helicopters flying low over our communities,” Mr Guy said in a statement. “We will fight to ensure that the heliport operator is held accountable for its actions.”
Helicopter noise lawsuit follows fatal Hudson River crash
Safety concerns have intensified since a sightseeing helicopter broke apart and crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City on April 10, 2025, killing all six people on board.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the Bell 206L-4 was being operated by New York Helicopter Charter on an air-tour flight and had departed from the Downtown Manhattan heliport. Residents in Hudson County have nevertheless pointed to the crash when arguing that repeated helicopter movements over densely populated areas pose an unacceptable risk.
Officials and campaigners also say the dispute involves pollution, public health and the impact of non-essential flights on children, schools and people trying to sleep.
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon described the issue as regional, saying no single municipality should have to challenge the operator alone. The participating authorities are seeking court orders to limit operations and prevent tourist flights from the Kearny site.
HHI and its chief executive, Jeff Hyman, had not publicly responded to requests for comment by Wednesday, September 30. The next stage will be for a judge in the Chancery Division to set a timetable for submissions and an initial hearing.
