HAMMONTON, N.J. (AP) — A tragic midair collision involving two helicopters occurred in Hammonton, New Jersey, on Sunday, resulting in the death of one pilot and leaving another critically injured. Authorities reported that at approximately 11:25 a.m., emergency responders were alerted to the aviation crash, leading to a rapid response from police and fire crews.
According to Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel, video footage captured at the scene depicted one helicopter spinning uncontrollably as it descended. Firefighters quickly worked to extinguish the flames that engulfed one of the helicopters after the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the aircraft involved as an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C, both operating over Hammonton Municipal Airport. Only the pilots were on board at the time of the incident.
One pilot was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was transported to a nearby hospital, where he is being treated for life-threatening injuries. Local café owner Sal Silipino, who had seen the pilots frequently dining at his establishment, recounted the moments leading up to the crash. He expressed shock at witnessing the helicopters take off, only to later see one spiral downward, followed by the other.
Witness Dan Dameshek, who was leaving a gym when the incident occurred, described hearing a loud snap before observing both helicopters losing control. He recalled the first helicopter flipping upside down and rapidly descending, followed by a similar fate for the second helicopter shortly thereafter. This alarming scene unfolded against a backdrop of light winds and good visibility, despite mostly cloudy skies at the time.
The town of Hammonton, population approximately 15,000, is located in Atlantic County, in southern New Jersey, about 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia. The area is known for its agricultural history and proximity to the expansive Pine Barrens, a protected wilderness region covering more than 1 million acres.
In light of the incident, both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be conducting investigations. Preliminary assessments will likely focus on communication protocols between the two pilots and whether they had visibility of each other prior to the collision. Former FAA and NTSB crash investigator Alan Diehl commented that most midair collisions result from a failure of pilots to 'see and avoid' potential hazards. Investigators will be interested in examining the out-of-cockpit views of the two aircraft to determine if one of the pilots approached from a blind side.
This harrowing incident underscores the importance of safety measures in aviation and will undoubtedly lead to further scrutiny as investigators work to uncover the factors that led to this tragic event.
