Helicopter Collision in New Jersey Claims One Life, One Injured
Two helicopters collided midair over Hammonton, New Jersey, on March 10, 2024, resulting in the death of one pilot and leaving another in critical condition. The incident occurred around 11:25 a.m. local time, as emergency responders rushed to the scene following reports of the crash.
Video footage captured the dramatic descent of one helicopter, which spun uncontrollably before impacting the ground. Fire crews worked swiftly to extinguish the flames that enveloped one of the aircraft, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the collision involved an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C helicopter, both of which were occupied solely by their respective pilots. Tragically, one individual did not survive the incident, while the other was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Investigation Underway
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel stated that both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead an investigation into the crash. Initial inquiries will likely focus on the communications between the two pilots and their ability to visually identify each other in the air.
Alan Diehl, a former crash investigator for the FAA and NTSB, emphasized that most midair collisions arise from a failure of pilots to “see and avoid” one another. He noted, “Clearly they’ll be looking at the out-of-cockpit views of the two aircraft and seeing if one pilot was approaching from the blind side.”
At the time of the accident, the weather was mostly cloudy, but conditions were deemed favorable with light winds and good visibility, according to reports from AccuWeather.
Hammonton, a town with a population of approximately 15,000, is situated in Atlantic County, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia. The area is known for its agricultural heritage and proximity to the Pine Barrens, a vast forested wilderness covering over 1 million acres (405,000 hectares).
As investigations continue, authorities will work to uncover the factors that contributed to this tragic event, focusing on ensuring that such accidents are prevented in the future.
