Overview
- Federal officials said an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C collided about 11:25 a.m. near Hammonton Municipal Airport in southern New Jersey.
- Both helicopters crashed in a field near Basin Road; one was engulfed in flames, and only the pilots were on board.
- One pilot was pronounced dead and the other was airlifted to a trauma center with life‑threatening injuries, according to local authorities.
- The NTSB is collecting wreckage and interviewing witnesses while assessing radio traffic, flight paths, and bystander videos, with FAA support.
- Police noted the pilots were acquaintances who often flew together, and preliminary reports of close or tandem flying will be examined as part of the probe; officials also warned about false or AI‑altered images circulating online.