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NJ helicopter crash: Video shows aircraft spinning out of control after mid-air collision in Hammonton, Atlantic County
A newly emerged clip appears to show one of the helicopters spinning out of control before going down.
UPDATE: At least one person was killed and another critically injured after two helicopters collided midair over Hammonton Municipal Airport in New Jersey on Sunday.
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said rescuers responded to a report of an aviation crash at around 11:25 a.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration described the incident as a midair collision between an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C helicopter over the airport.
Only the pilots were on board each aircraft. One pilot was killed, and the other was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Video from the scene captured one helicopter spinning rapidly toward the ground. Police and fire crews later extinguished flames engulfing one of the helicopters.
ORIGINAL STORY: Two helicopters reportedly collided mid-air near Hammonton Municipal Airport in Atlantic County, New Jersey, on Sunday.
According to emergency alert pages, the collision occurred near 100 Basin Road. One of the aircraft reportedly crashed into a wooded area. At least one patient has been extricated, and search-and-rescue operations are ongoing as crews continue to look for additional patients.
Several videos from the scene have surfaced, many showing smoke rising from the area. A newly emerged clip appears to show one of the helicopters spinning out of control before going down.
In a Facebook post, the Hammonton Fire Department said it was responding to an aviation-related incident.
"The Hammonton Fire Department, along with assisting agencies, is currently responding to an aviation-related incident in the area of Basin Road and WHP. Please avoid the area to allow emergency personnel to operate safely," the post said.
Speaking to NBC10, Hammonton resident Dan Dameshek said he was leaving a gym when he saw two helicopters spinning out of control.
“Immediately, the first helicopter went from right side up to upside down and started rapidly spinning, falling out of the air,” Dameshek told the TV station. “And then it looked like the second helicopter was OK for a second, and then it sounded like another snap or something ... and then that helicopter started rapidly spinning out of the air.”
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
(With inputs from AP)
