A second helicopter pilot critically injured in a midair collision in South Jersey has died from his accidents, police mentioned Monday. The opposite pilot concerned within the crash died on the scene.
Hammonton Police recognized the pilots as 65-year-old Kenneth L. Kirsch, of Carney’s Level, New Jersey, and 71-year-old Michael Greenberg of Sewell, New Jersey. Police mentioned Kirsch was piloting an Enstrom mannequin F-28A helicopter, and was flown to a hospital in essential situation after the crash.
In accordance with police, Kirsch died from his accidents on the hospital.
Greenberg, who was piloting an Enstrom mannequin 280C, was pronounced lifeless on the crash website close to Basin Street and White Horse Pike in Atlantic County. The pilots had been the one individuals on board each choppers, the Federal Aviation Administration mentioned Sunday.
Each helicopters had taken off from Hammonton Municipal Airport shortly earlier than the collision at 11:25 a.m. One of many choppers was utterly engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
The Nationwide Transportation Security Board and FAA are investigating the crash.
NTSB investigators had been again on the crash website early Monday documenting the particles subject, which the company mentioned is about 100 yards lengthy. A spokesperson for the NTSB mentioned each helicopters will probably be faraway from the location on Tuesday and brought to a “safe location” the place they will proceed to be examined by investigators. A preliminary report is anticipated throughout the subsequent 30 days.
“I simply instructed him all the things was going to be OK”
Following the crash, CBS Information Philadelphia spoke with Caitlyn Collins, who mentioned one of many helicopters landed in her yard. Collins mentioned she ran towards the wreckage and stayed with Kirsch, who later succumbed to his accidents, as first responders raced to the scene.
“I simply held his hand, I simply instructed him all the things was going to be OK and all the things was positive, and I instructed him — , you could possibly hear the sirens — I mentioned, they’re coming for you,” Collins mentioned.
Different neighbors within the space helped direct emergency crews as they arrived on the crash website.
In a social media put up, New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill mentioned, “My coronary heart is damaged for the household of the pilot killed in yesterday’s deadly helicopter crash in Hammonton. I’m praying for the complete and quick restoration of the opposite pilot injured and am grateful for the emergency responders on the bottom.”
Sherrill is a former Navy helicopter pilot.
It is a growing story.
