Calling the airspace below 1,000 feet the "Wild West of New York City airspace," Senator Charles Schumer is proposing new measures aimed at preventing another crash in the area.

Schumer wants the Federal Aviation Administration to monitor all helicopter and airplane flights below a thousand feet.

He also wants to increase staff at New York and New Jersey control towers, and to install an alarm system that would alert controllers when aircraft are getting too close.

"Copters and planes can fly below 1,000 feet without being watched. That makes no sense in a busy place like New York," said the New York senator. "Maybe in the middle of Idaho you don't need to have a flight plan if you're flying below 1000 feet, but in the middle of New York City you should."

Nine people were killed when a tour helicopter collided with a small plane over the Hudson River on August 8th.

At the news conference yesterday, Schumer also called for sanctions against Great Britain, if reports are proven that the country made a deal with Libya in exchange for the release of the Lockerbie bomber.

Schumer's comments came after the Times of London reported that Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was returned to Libya because it was in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom. The paper reported that Britain made the decision to release al-Megrahi after an oil exploration deal between Libya and BP hit a snag.

The oil deal was completed a short time later.

British officials dismiss the allegations.