Some lawmakers want to ban or severely restrict the flights, but Mayor Eric Adams and others say they’re part of what makes the city attractive.

The Thursday crash of a sightseeing helicopter into the Hudson River, killing the pilot and a family of five Spanish tourists, has reignited the debate over the use of helicopters for tourism in the city and the need for stricter safety regulation to better protect passengers.

New Yorkers have slammed sightseeing flights as a nuisance for years and, although almost all operate smoothly, a few end in tragedy.

Five people have been pulled from the water, according to two people briefed on the rescue efforts. Their condition was not yet known.

"It should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn’t arrive," New York Helicopter Tours CEO Michael Roth said

Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife and their three children were among six people killed when the helicopter plunged into the Hudson River

Agustín Escobar and Mercè Camprubí Montal, both executives from Spain, died on Thursday in a crash near New York City along with their three children and the pilot.

A helicopter carrying a family visiting from Spain and their pilot crashed into the Hudson River, killing all six people on board. City officials, including Mayor Eric Adams, praised the rapid response from emergency crews,

Agustín Escobar and Mercè Camprubí Montal died with their three children, reported to be aged four, five and 11. The pilot of the helicopter also died. The parents both worked for Siemens and the company sent its condolences,

The NYC Council on Thursday voted to approve legislation that will would increase the current number of public restrooms from 1,100 to 2,120 by 2035.

The Big Apple may soon be flush with shiny new toilets. A bill passed by City Council Thursday directs officials to come up with a plan to create a citywide network of public restrooms.

The New York City Council has passed a bill requiring the mayor to add roughly 1,000 public bathrooms across the city by 2035.