Letter: Ban tour helicopters over neighborhoods

Sadly, three people were killed in a sightseeing helicopter crash on a residential street in Kailua. My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Luckily, no one on the ground was hurt.

This was the third helicopter to go down over Oahu in the last six months. Why is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowing commercial aircraft to routinely fly over populated areas? The only general aviation aircraft that should be flying over populated areas are military, public service and emergency helicopters and planes.

I applaud state Rep. Cynthia Thielen for asking that the FAA ban tour flights over residential areas and national parks. All our state legislators and congressional senators and representatives should be doing the same. Let’s not wait until some innocent bystander on the ground is killed by something falling out of the sky.

Joy Schoonover

Waipahu

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