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(Jones Beach, NY) — The FAA is investigating Nassau County’s use of a low-flying helicopter as a form of crowd control in last week’s Jones Beach Senior Cut Day Incident.
The FAA says it doesn’t matter what the purpose is — no aircraft is allowed to go below its set minimum altitude.
Video from the scene on Jones Beach shows the police helicopter flying low to the sand on the beach to get 500 high schoolers to disperse. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman says the NCPD’s actions were instrumental in clearing that crowd.
Authorities say teenagers from several high schools in Queens and Nassau County crowded the beach after a flyer went out about the unsanctioned event. New York State Police say kids started to show up at three p.m. on June 5th but fights started to break out hours later.
A similar incident was attempted in Long Beach, but a heavy police presence deterred the crowd.
