Res 0696-2026

Res. No. 696 Resolution calling on the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration to suspend all flights of seaplane operations at the New York City Skyport Seaplane Terminal until a comprehensive safety review of such operations is completed. By Council Members Maloney and Restler Whereas, New York City’s waterways support a wide range of transportation and maritime uses, including public and private passenger ferries, excursions and recreational vessels, freight and commercial maritime operations, and seaplanes; Whereas, The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) is responsible for managing the United States’ airspace and all aspects of civilian aviation; Whereas, The Skyport Seaplane Terminal (“Skyport”) is located on East 23rd street along the waterside edge of the East River in Manhattan and is regulated by the FAA; and Whereas, The Skyport is News York City’s only seaplane terminal, which causes the area to be heavily trafficked, especially during the summer months; and Whereas, According to the FAA, there were 2,719 enplanements at the Skyport during the 2025 calendar year; and Whereas, The Skyport’s location and its frequency of arrivals and departures presents unique safety, environmental and operational challenges due to its proximity to dense residential neighborhoods, schools and major transportation corridors; and Whereas, The National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) is an independent United States federal agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents and major incidents in other transportation modes, determining probable causes and issuing safety recommendations; and Whereas, On July 5 of 2026, a Kodiak 100 seaplane destined for the Skyport was forced to make a hard landing in the East River; and Whereas, A hard landing is defined as touching down with an excessively fast descent rate; and Whereas, According to the FAA, the seaplane’s impact snapped a wing strut and left the aircraft partially submerged; and Whereas, Two passengers of the plane were reported injured and all eight passengers had to be rescued by the New York City Fire Department’s Marine Unit; and Whereas, The FAA and NTSB have an open investigation into the cause of the incident and stated "air traffic control was not providing services to the aircraft"; and Whereas, The FAA and NTSB should conduct a comprehensive review of the Skyport to ensure public confidence that the seaplane operations are being conducted at the highest levels of safety; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration to suspend all flights of seaplane operations at the New York City Skyport Seaplane Terminal until a comprehensive safety review of such operations is completed. WJH LS 25722 10/16/26