NYC sightseeing helicopter forced to make emergency landing near Hudson River

A New York sightseeing helicopter undergoing a maintenance flight was forced to make an emergency landing at a New Jersey cargo terminal on Tuesday following suspected engine problems.According to the Federal Aviation Administration, two people were aboard the Bell 206L-4 when it set down on a roadway at the Port Jersey Marine Terminal in Bayonne, across the Hudson River from Manhattan, at about 8:55 a.m.The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed no injuries. Messages seeking comment from helicopter operator FlyNYON were not immediately returned.Video footage captured at the scene shows a section of the tail resting on the road roughly 30 feet (9 meters) away from the aircraft, which FAA records show was built in 1999.Audio recordings from air traffic control captured the pilot issuing a distress call, stating, "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" and "we need to land outside of the airport." The aircraft touched down several minutes later just outside the container terminal, the Port Authority stated.The incident follows a fatal accident last year in which a Bell 206L-4 tour helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing six people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board recovered the remains of several geese from that aircraft, indicating it likely struck birds before crashing.The incident follows a fatal accident last year in which a Bell 206L-4 tour helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing six people on board (AFP via Getty Images)Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General launched an audit into tour helicopter regulations, citing "longstanding concerns regarding the industry’s safety and whether the current regulatory framework provides adequate safeguards."Assistant Inspector General Marshall Jackson said there have been at least 58 helicopter crashes involving tourist helicopters in the U.S., including 11 that were fatal since 2008, including 11 fatalities.