One person is dead and another critically injured after two helicopters collided in midair and crash-landed near Hammonton, New Jersey, on Sunday morning, officials confirmed.
The collision, involving an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C, occurred shortly after 11 a.m. near the intersection of White Horse Pike and Route 206. One of the aircraft burst into flames upon impact, prompting an immediate emergency response from local authorities who later extinguished the fire.
“There is confirmed one fatality at this point and one subject transported by EMS with critical life-threatening injuries,” according to officials cited in local reports.
Witnesses Describe Terrifying Scene
Local residents watched in horror as the two helicopters descended in a rotating motion before crashing near the 100 block of Basin Road. One witness recalled hearing an unusual sound just before the impact.
“I did hear a metal clank, but there’s a lot of vehicles around, so I didn’t really pay much attention,” the witness told reporters before seeing smoke rise from the crash site and promptly calling 911.
The Hammonton Police Department received the initial report of the aviation crash around 11:25 a.m. and quickly cordoned off the area. Authorities have asked residents and travelers to avoid Basin Road while emergency crews conduct rescue operations and investigators begin their work at the scene.
Investigation Underway
What caused two aircraft to collide in what should have been controlled airspace? That’s the critical question now facing federal investigators.
The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified of the incident and the National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to investigate the midair collision, according to preliminary reports. Such investigations typically examine weather conditions, pilot experience, mechanical factors, and communication records.
Police, firefighters, and EMS personnel responded to the scene within minutes of the crash. The identity of the deceased and injured individuals has not yet been released, pending notification of family members.
Mid-air collisions remain among the rarest but most deadly aviation accidents. Sunday’s crash marks one of the few helicopter-to-helicopter collisions in recent U.S. aviation history, a sobering reminder of the risks that persist even in regulated airspace.
