On Wednesday evening, a fatal air crash occurred at Carlisle Regional Airport in Pennsylvania. A small Cessna airplane collided with a state police helicopter in the air, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot of the small plane and injuries to two state troopers who were taken to the hospital.
According to Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner George Bivens, the accident happened between approximately 6:50 and 6:52 p.m. when the helicopter was conducting routine training.
The Bell 407 helicopter was hovering several feet above a grassy area beside the runway when a Cessna 150 aircraft suddenly approached from behind.
Investigators noted that the airplane made a sudden right turn at the last moment, initially hitting the helicopter’s rear tail rotor before entering the main rotor. Bivens described the impact as “extremely devastating,” mentioning, “The helicopter pilot had no chance to see the plane approaching towards them.”
Following the collision, the Cessna airplane crashed nearby and broke into several pieces, with the sole pilot onboard tragically dying on the spot. Authorities are waiting to notify the relatives and have not yet disclosed the identity of the deceased.
The helicopter lost its rotor blades and tail boom in the accident, flipping over and partially crushing the roof. Bryce Corman, a corporal, and Officer Jason Mills were briefly trapped inside. The police stated that Corman managed to push open a window afterward, assisting the more seriously injured Mills to escape from the wreckage to prevent a potential fire.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated in a subsequent press conference that the two injured state troopers are currently in stable condition and are expected to recover successfully. Shapiro commended the quick response of the on-site police officers and medical personnel, remarking, “Tonight’s situation could have been worse.”
As Carlisle Regional Airport does not have an air traffic control tower, pilots usually communicate using a common radio frequency. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have dispatched personnel to investigate further into the precise cause of the accident through on-site recordings and radio communication logs.
Due to Carlisle Regional Airport not having an air traffic control tower, pilots typically use a common radio frequency for communication. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have sent representatives to assist in clarifying the exact cause of the accident through onsite recordings and radio communication logs.
(This article references information from the Associated Press, CNN, and the Pennsylvania State Police)