A routine Sunday morning flight ended in tragedy after two small helicopters struck each other in the air above southern New Jersey, sending both aircraft crashing into a field near Hammonton.
Authorities confirmed to the BBC that one pilot was killed, while the other remains hospitalized with critical injuries following the helicopter crash on December 28.
The incident unfolded shortly before midday near Hammonton Municipal Airport, where the two helicopters—an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C—were operating in the same airspace.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, each aircraft was carrying only its pilot at the time of the collision.
Emergency crews arriving at the scene encountered a chaotic and dangerous situation. Police said one of the helicopters had burst into flames upon impact with the ground, prompting firefighters to battle an active fire while medics worked to stabilize the injured pilot.
Both individuals were transported by helicopter to a regional trauma center, where one later died from their injuries.
Fire officials described extensive destruction at the crash site, with debris scattered across a wide area. Rotor blades were embedded in the ground, and the remains of one helicopter were so severely burned that its shape was nearly unrecognizable.
“It didn’t resemble an aircraft anymore,” Hammonton Fire Department Chief Sean Macri said, noting the intensity of the fire responders faced when they arrived.
Witness accounts added a human layer to the devastating scene. Sal Silipino, owner of the Apron Cafe located at the airport, told the Associated Press that the pilots were regular customers who had stopped in for breakfast just minutes before takeoff.
“They were always polite, always friendly,” he said. “Seeing how it ended is shocking.”
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the collision and dispatched specialists to examine the wreckage. Investigators will review flight data, aircraft maintenance histories, air traffic communications, and witness statements to determine how the two helicopters ended up on a collision course. Once documentation at the scene is complete, both aircraft will be transported to a secure facility for further analysis.
Hammonton, located in Atlantic County near the Pine Barrens and roughly 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia, remained partially restricted as emergency crews and federal investigators continued their work at the crash site.