In brief
Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, were pronounced dead following a midair collision between two helicopters near Hammonton Municipal Airport. Eyewitnesses reported observing the helicopters flying closely together before one began to spiral downwards. Investigations are now underway to determine the cause of the crash, as both pilots were known to frequent a local cafe.
Authorities have identified the two pilots who died after their helicopters collided midair in southern New Jersey. Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, both residents of the state, were known to often dine together at a cafe near the crash site in Hammonton, approximately 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel stated that Kirsch, hailing from Carney’s Point, was declared dead at a nearby hospital, while Greenberg, from Sewell, succumbed to his injuries at the crash location. Eyewitnesses described the helicopters flying perilously close together shortly before the incident, which occurred around 11:25 a.m. Sunday, approximately a mile and a half from Hammonton’s municipal airport. Sal Silipino, the owner of a local cafe, recounted how patrons watched the helicopters take off, only to see one spiraling downward followed by the other. Amid the smoke and chaos, police and fire crews worked to extinguish the flames engulfing one of the helicopters. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the collision involved an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and an Enstrom 280C helicopter, with only the pilots onboard each aircraft.Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been dispatched to the crash site, aiming to uncover the details that led to this tragic event. Former FAA and NTSB crash investigator Alan Diehl emphasized that most midair collisions stem from a failure of the pilots to effectively see and avoid one another. Despite the cloudy conditions at the time, visibility was reportedly good, raising further questions about the circumstances of the collision.
