On Sunday, around noon, a tragic mid-air collision occurred between two helicopters in Hammonton, southern New Jersey, resulting in one fatality and one person sustaining serious injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the incident, with NTSB taking the lead in the subsequent investigative work.
According to the FAA, the accident took place between approximately 11:25 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. when two helicopters collided near the Hammonton Municipal Airport, involving an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C. Each helicopter had only one pilot on board.
Authorities reported that the crash site was located in the vicinity of Basin Road. Upon arrival at the scene, rescue personnel discovered that one of the helicopters had caught fire, which was promptly extinguished by firefighters. Both pilots were injured, with one person succumbing to their injuries at the scene and the other in critical condition, being urgently transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Video footage circulating on social media depicted one of the helicopters spinning out of control in the air before crashing to the ground, followed by billows of thick black smoke rising from the site. Witnesses described hearing a loud impact followed by witnessing the helicopter flipping over and descending.
Aerial images revealed that one of the helicopters was severely burned and reduced to charred debris, leaving only the tail section intact, while the other appeared to have its tail section sheared off, with the cockpit crushed from the impact. Both helicopters were of small vintage models manufactured decades ago.
The FAA has initiated a joint investigation with the NTSB to determine the cause of the accident. The NTSB has also confirmed on X platform that they are investigating the mid-air collision involving the Enstrom 280C and Enstrom F-28A, promising to release further information as the investigation progresses.
Local law enforcement has cordoned off the surrounding area of the crash and advised drivers to temporarily avoid Basin Road to facilitate rescue and investigative operations. New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way has been informed of the accident.
Hammonton, situated in the southeastern part of New Jersey, has a population of approximately 14,000 residents and is located about 35 miles from both Atlantic City and Philadelphia. Authorities are still piecing together the exact sequence of events leading to the accident and will continue to provide updates on the progress of the investigation.