Video shows a Nassau County Police Department helicopter flying low over the sand as people fled the beach.

Nassau County

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the Nassau County Police Department's use of a low-flying helicopter to disperse a large crowd at Jones Beach. Video footage shows the helicopter flying close to the sand, causing people to flee as the rotor kicked up dirt and sand. 

An aviation expert cited in the report stated that the helicopter appeared to be in violation of federal rules regarding minimum altitude over congested areas. The FAA's regulations require aircraft to maintain sufficient altitude to allow for emergency landings without endangering people or property. Nassau County officials defended the police action, stating it was necessary to break up fights and prevent injuries. The FAA will determine if the situation justified the helicopter's low altitude.

FAA investigating Nassau police helicopter tactics at Jones Beach

we begin with the F. A. A. Investigating actions taken by the Nassau Police Department. You saw it first right here on News 12 when a low flying police helicopter was used to disperse a large crowd at Jones Beach. We spoke with an aviation expert who says that chopper was breaking at least one federal rule. This is what it looked like Thursday evening when Nassau police used a low flying helicopter to disperse a crowd of 500 teenagers at Jones Beach. You could see the teens running in all directions to get away from the force of the rotor. I don't think it's necessary to chop because you know the damage it causes by kicking up the dirt and sand. Now a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration says the agency is investigating the incident. The F. A. A. Has strict rules governing altitude which say in part no pilot may operate an aircraft below an altitude where if the engine fails, an emergency landing cannot be made without creating an undue hazard to people or property on the surface. Those rules also apply to police aircraft over congested area or over a crowd like that. All aircraft need to be 1000 ft over the highest obstacle within 2000 ft of the aircraft. So that aircraft was definitely in non compliance with that requirement of the F. A. A. As we've reported, police said several fights broke out that evening and there were some minor injuries in response to the investigation. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman wrote, we are confident that the actions taken by the N. C. P. D. Aviation helicopter were instrumental in dispersing a large crowd of individuals who were engaged in fighting and other disruptive behaviors, thereby saving our kids from getting hurt. They did the best they could with what they had. Now, candors did say there are some situations that would allow for non compliance, including emergencies, and that will now be up to the investigators to determine.

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