• Two people died when a helicopter crashed into a barge in the Mississippi River.
• The helicopter struck a powerline before the crash occurred.
• The incident led to the closure of the river to commercial navigation.
• Emergency crews and federal agencies are investigating the situation.
• No injuries were reported among other parties involved.

Two individuals lost their lives when a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River near East Alton, Illinois, on Thursday around 11 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident, noting that the helicopter hit a powerline before the crash. Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol stated that there were no other injuries, as the barge was unoccupied at the time of the crash, according to CBS News, Newsweek, and India Times.

The crash ignited a fire on the barge, generating a thick plume of smoke visible from the shoreline. Witnesses reported the fire was extinguished shortly thereafter. Emergency responders, including fire and law enforcement agencies, arrived promptly at the scene to manage the situation, as noted by Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender, who confirmed that federal agencies will conduct an investigation into the crash, according to CBS News, Newsweek, and India Times.

In the aftermath of the crash, the Mississippi River was closed to commercial navigation to allow emergency services and investigators to work undisturbed. The Lewis and Clark Bridge connecting to Illinois was also temporarily closed. This tragic incident raises safety concerns regarding operations involving helicopters, particularly those working around power lines, as highlighted in initial reports, according to CBS News, Newsweek, and India Times.