In a tragic incident over the weekend in southern New Jersey, two helicopters collided mid-air, resulting in the deaths of two pilots. According to the latest information from local authorities and witnesses, these two pilots were not only well-known aviation enthusiasts in the area but also longtime friends who were having breakfast together just moments before the accident occurred.
The collision took place on Sunday morning at 11:25 am near a farmland close to the Hammonton Airport. The two helicopters involved had only the pilots on board – 65-year-old Kenneth Kirsch and 71-year-old Michael Greenberg, both of whom tragically lost their lives.
Information from the Hammonton Police Department revealed that both individuals were residents of New Jersey and had obtained their pilot licenses in 2014. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data indicated that the aircraft they were piloting were an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C helicopter, respectively.
Reports from the Associated Press stated that Sal Silipino, the owner of the Apron Cafe located near the airport, confirmed that both pilots were regular customers at the cafe. They would meet almost every week or every other week to have breakfast together before taking off on their flights.
Silipino told local media that on that fateful day, the two pilots had just finished breakfast and left the cafe when customers inside witnessed one of the helicopters crashing from the sky. He expressed shock, describing them as very friendly individuals who were also kind to the cafe staff.
Local resident Dan Dameshek, who witnessed the entire incident while leaving the gym, recounted the events to NBC10. He mentioned hearing a loud breaking sound followed by one of the helicopters suddenly flipping upside down in mid-air and rapidly spiraling towards the ground.
“Then the second helicopter seemed okay,” he said, “but after a while, I heard another loud noise… and that helicopter also started rapidly spinning down.”
Upon the arrival of the firefighters, one of the helicopters engulfed in flames was swiftly extinguished, with wreckage scattered over an area of 91 meters.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has deployed investigators to the scene. Former NTSB investigator Alan Diehl highlighted that mid-air collisions often result from failures in the “see and avoid” mechanism. The investigation will focus on whether the two helicopters approached each other within blind spots.
The NTSB is in the process of recovering aircraft wreckage and examining communication records, with an initial report expected to be released within 30 days.