Hammonton, Dec 29 (AP) Authorities on Monday identified two pilots who died after their helicopters collided midair in southern New Jersey.
Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, were friends who
both lived in New Jersey and would often have breakfast together at a cafe near the crash site in Hammonton, about 56 kilometres southeast of Philadelphia.
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said in a statement that Kirsch, of Carney’s Point, was pronounced dead at an area hospital after being flown there, while Greenberg, of Sewell, died at the crash site.
“Statements from witnesses had the two helicopters flying close together just before the crash,” he said. “The crash site was approximately a mile and a half from the airport in a farm field.” Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were at the site Monday, authorities said.
Friel said rescuers responded to a report of an aviation crash at about 11:25 am. Sunday. Video from the scene shows a helicopter spinning rapidly to the ground. Police and fire crews subsequently extinguished flames that engulfed one of the helicopters. (AP) GRS GRS
