A pilot has died and another is fighting for their life after two helicopters collided in mid-air over a municipal airport in New Jersey.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The crash occurred at approximately 11:25am local time on December 28, 2025, over the Hammonton Municipal Airport. The aircraft involved were an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C helicopter. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), each aircraft had only the pilot on board.
Footage from the scene captured the terrifying moment one of the helicopters spiralled out of control towards the ground following the impact. Another video showed a large, dark plume of smoke rising from the wreckage of one of the aircraft in a field.
Emergency Response and Aftermath
Firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished flames from one of the downed choppers. Fire Department Chief Sean Macri confirmed to CNN that both victims were airlifted from the crash site to a nearby hospital.
The extent of the damage to the two aircraft differed significantly. Photographs from the scene showed the wreckage of a red helicopter largely intact and in several large pieces. The other helicopter, however, was reported to be heavily destroyed and burnt.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the US agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents, has been notified and will lead the inquiry. It remains unclear where either helicopter was travelling to or from at the time of the collision.
Hammonton, the location of the crash, is a town in Atlantic County with a population of around 15,000. It is situated in southern New Jersey, roughly 35 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
