Home / Disasters and Accidents / NJ Chopper Collision Claims Second Pilot's Life
NJ Chopper Collision Claims Second Pilot's Life
30 Dec
Summary
- Two helicopters collided mid-air near Hammonton Municipal Airport.
- Michael Greenberg and Kenneth Kirsch were identified as the victims.
- One helicopter burst into flames upon impact with the ground.
Tragedy struck in Hammonton Township, New Jersey, when two helicopters collided in mid-air on Sunday morning. The devastating crash sent both aircraft plummeting to the ground approximately 30 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Authorities have identified the victims as Michael Greenberg, 71, of Sewell, and Kenneth Kirsch, 65, of Carney's Point. Both pilots were the sole occupants of their respective helicopters.
Greenberg was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred on a farm. Kirsch sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a Camden hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Witnesses reported seeing the two helicopters flying in close proximity, appearing to be in tandem, just a mile from the Hammonton Municipal Airport before the collision.
One of the helicopters, an Enstrom F-28A flown by Kirsch, and the other, an Enstrom 280C piloted by Greenberg, crashed in a rural area. Despite the remote location, the incident was witnessed by many bystanders. One witness described the immediate aftermath, noting one helicopter flipped and spun uncontrollably before falling, followed by the second helicopter experiencing a similar catastrophic failure.
