• Two helicopters collided mid-air in New Jersey, resulting in two fatalities.
• Pilots Kenneth Kirsch and Michael Greenberg were identified as the victims.
• Federal authorities are investigating the incident, looking into factors like visibility and communication.

On Sunday, a mid-air collision between two helicopters in Hammonton, New Jersey, led to the death of one pilot and critically injured another. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) described the crash as involving an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and an Enstrom 280C helicopter, both of which had only pilots on board. At approximately 11:25 a.m., local police and fire crews responded to the scene to extinguish the flames engulfing one of the aircraft after it reported the crash, according to SCMP.

Authorities have identified the deceased pilots as 65-year-old Kenneth Kirsch and 71-year-old Michael Greenberg, both from New Jersey. Reports indicate that they were close friends who frequented a local cafe for breakfast. Tragically, Kirsch passed away at a hospital after the incident, while Greenberg died at the crash site. Eyewitness accounts described the two helicopters flying closely before the collision, and video captured one helicopter spiraling out of control, as noted by SFGate and Los Angeles Times.

The investigation into the crash is being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board. Investigators are expected to begin by examining any communications between the pilots and the visibility conditions at the time of the accident. Alan Diehl, a former crash investigator for the FAA, emphasized that “virtually all mid-air collisions are a failure to what they call ‘see and avoid,’” suggesting that visibility and situational awareness will be critical points of focus, according to Los Angeles Times.

Hammonton, a town with a population of around 15,000, is located approximately 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia and is known for its agricultural history. Locals expressed shock over the incident, with eyewitnesses recounting the horrifying moment the aircraft began to spin uncontrollably. Sal Silipino, owner of a nearby cafe, remarked about the tragic events, recalling seeing the helicopters take off before one began to spiral downwards, as reported by SFGate and Los Angeles Times.