Long Island town sues over JFK’s low-flying planes as residents soaring mad over jet noise

The town of Hempstead on Long Island is dealing with a significant increase in plane traffic and noise from John F. Kennedy Airport, prompting them to take legal action against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The town, along with three residents, filed a lawsuit last week to push the Port Authority to update noise impact maps in the area, with hopes of reducing the disruptive plane noise that residents and business owners have been experiencing since 2022.

The lawsuit claims that the current Noise Exposure Maps (NEMs) do not accurately reflect the increase in noise complaints since air travel to JFK Airport spiked in 2022. Between April 2024 and April 2025, there were over 372,000 noise complaints for the airport, a significant jump from the 142,000 grievances reported between December 2017 and December 2018.

The lawsuit also highlights the fact that the current noise maps only cover a few homes in Valley Stream and are based on modeling scenarios rather than actual data. Town Attorney John Maccarone expressed the town’s commitment to addressing the issue, stating that they will explore every avenue to fight against the excessive flyovers affecting residents’ health and well-being.

This legal action comes after a previous lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration in February, which was dismissed. The town plans to request a meeting with the agency to avoid further litigation. The focus of the current lawsuit is on Runway 22L, with the town arguing that the Port Authority’s claim that the increase in runway usage is not permanent is contradicted by data.

Noise Exposure Maps play a crucial role in determining noise mitigation measures for affected properties, including physical alterations and flight path modifications. The town hopes that by updating these maps, they can alleviate the impact of the constant plane noise on residents. A representative for the Port Authority declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.

Overall, the town of Hempstead is taking a stand against the overwhelming plane noise affecting its residents and is committed to finding a solution to this ongoing issue.