Two pilots tragically lost their lives in a midair helicopter collision that occurred over Hammonton, New Jersey. Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, both with strong ties to the local community, frequently met for breakfast at a cafe near the crash site.
Police Chief Kevin Friel confirmed that Kirsch was pronounced dead at a hospital while Greenberg died at the crash site. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopters flying alarmingly close to each other shortly before the incident, which occurred approximately a mile and a half away from Hammonton Municipal Airport.
Local resident and cafe owner Sal Silipino lamented, It was shocking. I’m still shaking after that happened. The cafe was a common gathering spot for the pilots, who were well-liked in the area.
An official investigation has been launched, with teams from the National Transportation Safety Board examining the site. The Federal Aviation Administration described the crash as a collision between an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and an Enstrom 280C helicopter. Both helicopters had only the pilots on board at the time of the incident.
Hammonton, a town known for its agricultural history, has a population of around 15,000. Alan Diehl, a former crash investigator, noted that most midair collisions result from the inability of pilots to see and avoid each other, emphasizing the crucial need for thorough investigation.
Witnesses recalled hearing loud snaps and seeing one helicopter spin out of control, soon followed by the other. Although weather conditions were mostly cloudy, visibility was reported to be good at the time of the incident.
