One person has died, and another was critically injured after two helicopters collided mid-air on Sunday in Hammonton, New Jersey, local police said.
Details of the Crash
The Hammonton Police Department reported that one of the helicopters caught fire before crash-landing. Emergency services worked to extinguish the blaze.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that only the pilots were on board each aircraft. A federal investigation will determine the cause of the collision.
Hammonton is about 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia, near the Atlantic City Expressway.
Injuries and Emergency Response
Hammonton Police said one pilot is receiving emergency care for life-threatening injuries.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the crash involved an Enstrom 280C helicopter and an Enstrom F-28A helicopter. Both are small aircraft that usually hold three people or fewer. The collision occurred around 11:25 a.m. EST (16:25 GMT).
Context and Safety Trends
In January, a military helicopter collided with a passenger jet in Washington DC, killing 67 people.
FAA data shows that fatal helicopter accidents have declined on average over the last three years, despite isolated tragedies like this one.
