A mid-air collision involving two helicopters near Hammonton Airport, New Jersey, US, on 28/12 at approximately 11:25, killed one pilot and critically injured another. Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident. The collision involved an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C helicopter. Each aircraft carried only one pilot.
Video footage from the scene showed one helicopter spiraling rapidly before crashing to the ground. Emergency services, including police and firefighters, quickly responded to extinguish a fire that engulfed one of the helicopters on the ground.
A helicopter spirals before crashing to the ground after the collision in Hammonton, New Jersey, US, on 28/12. Video: X/PressTV
The red helicopter had a broken tail and its front was severely damaged. The white helicopter was incinerated, leaving only its lower fuselage.
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One helicopter completely burned out after the accident on 28/12. Photo: AP |
One helicopter completely burned out after the accident on 28/12. Photo: AP
Sal Silipino, who owns a nearby cafe, stated that the pilots were regular customers who often ate breakfast together. Silipino and his customers watched the helicopters take off before one began to spin and descend, followed by the other. "It was horrifying. I'm still shaking from it," Silipino recounted.
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The helicopter with a broken tail and damaged front section after the accident on 28/12. Photo: AP |
The helicopter with a broken tail and damaged front section after the accident on 28/12. Photo: AP
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the incident. According to AccuWeather, weather conditions at the time of the accident were cloudy with light winds and good visibility.
Ngoc Anh (According to AP, ABC, NBC)
