One killed, another critically injured as two helicopters collide mid-air in New Jersey
The aftermath of a harrowing mid-air helicopter collision in New Jersey.
Image: Screengrab via New York Post
Two helicopters were involved in a mid-air collision in southern New Jersey on Sunday, leaving one person dead and another critically injured, authorities confirmed.
The crash occurred shortly after midday near Hammonton, a town in Atlantic County, not far from the local municipal airport, the New York Post reported. Emergency responders reported that both aircraft went down in a wooded area, prompting an urgent rescue effort.
Video footage shared online shows smoke rising above the treeline as witnesses react in shock from a nearby parking area. In emergency radio communications, first responders described one helicopter engulfed in flames and another down nearby, with crews rushing to extract the victims.
The Federal Aviation Administration later confirmed, to the New York Post, that the aircraft involved were two small, older-model helicopters and that only the pilots were on board at the time of the collision. One pilot was killed, while the other sustained life-threatening injuries.
Images taken from the air after the crash reveal extensive damage. One helicopter was almost completely destroyed by fire, while the other suffered severe structural damage consistent with a violent impact.
Investigators from the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are examining the circumstances surrounding the collision, with the NTSB leading the inquiry. Officials have not yet released full details on what caused the aircraft to collide.
Hammonton, home to roughly 14,000 residents, is located about 35 miles from both Atlantic City and Philadelphia.
The incident follows heightened scrutiny of aviation safety after several high-profile aircraft accidents in the United States earlier this year.
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