HAMMONTON, N.J. — A midair collision between two helicopters over southern New Jersey has left one person dead and another critically injured, according to federal and local officials.
The crash occurred around 11:25 a.m. Sunday near Hammonton Municipal Airport, police said. Emergency crews rushed to the scene after receiving reports of an aviation accident and worked to extinguish flames that had engulfed one of the aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision involved an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and an Enstrom 280C helicopter. Authorities confirmed that only the pilots were aboard the two aircraft at the time of the crash.
One pilot was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. Video from witnesses showed a helicopter spinning rapidly before hitting the ground.
Hammonton, a community of roughly 15,000 residents in Atlantic County, lies about 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia and is known for its agricultural roots and proximity to the Pine Barrens.
Both the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA have been notified and will lead the investigation into what caused the midair collision, authorities said.