A second pilot has died following a midair collision between two helicopters in Hammonton, New Jersey, authorities announced, reporting via Baltimore Chronicle with reference to ABC. The first pilot, 71-year-old Michael Greenberg of Sewell, New Jersey, flying an Enstrom 280C helicopter, died at the scene, according to the Hammonton Police Department. The second pilot, 65-year-old Kenneth L. Kirsch of Carney’s Point, New Jersey, operating an Enstrom F-28A helicopter, was transported to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
The crash occurred around 12:25 p.m. Sunday, approximately 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia, near the Hammonton Municipal Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration reported. The FAA confirmed that the two helicopters collided in midair before both plummeted to the ground. One of the helicopters caught fire upon impact, prompting police officers and EMS personnel to extinguish the flames.
Witness Brian Sherr recounted seeing the helicopters descend in an uncontrolled manner. “I saw one of the helicopters slowly descending in a rotating motion, almost as if the rudder and the tail had lost control,” Sherr said. “I thought that was the only one at first, then I saw a second one come down with the same issue.” Smoke rose after the second helicopter hit the ground, prompting Sherr to call 911. Police confirmed that both helicopters were flying close together before the collision.
The helicopters crashed near the 100 block of Basin Road. Authorities continue to investigate the exact cause of the midair collision.
Earlier we wrote that сommander of the Russian Volunteer Corps Denis Kapustin killed during combat mission.
