Kathy Hochul's helicopter returns to Albany the day she signs the state budget

Kathy Hochul's aircraft, a Sikorsky S-76D helicopter (N761NY), was tracked flying from New York Skyports Inc Seaplane Base to Albany International Airport on June 28, 2026, a 51-minute trip. The aircraft departed at 14:27 UTC and arrived at 15:19 UTC, reaching a maximum altitude of 3,900 feet.

If Kathy Hochul was aboard, the flight would have returned her to the state capital the same day she signed the FY 2027 budget into law, as reported by the governor's office [governor.ny.gov](https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-budget-makes-new-york-more-affordable-keeps-new-yorkers-safe-and-expands). The budget includes measures on affordability, public safety, and immigration protections, per the May 28 announcement.

This flight follows a pattern of state aircraft use for official travel; the New York State Police Aviation Unit operates the S-76D primarily for executive transport. The timing would suggest a return from New York City, where the governor had been on a post-budget victory tour, per City & State New York [cityandstateny.com](https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/05/kathy-hochul-late-budget-isnt-problem-its-successful-tactic/413825/).