A chilling scene unfolded over Hammonton, New Jersey, as two helicopters spiraled from the sky, the result of a devastating mid-air collision. The quiet Sunday afternoon was shattered by the sound of twisting metal and the horrifying sight of aircraft plummeting towards a farm field, 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia.
The tragedy claimed the lives of two pilots, identified as Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71. They weren’t just pilots; they were close friends, often seen sharing breakfast at a local cafe near the crash site. Their routine morning ritual was tragically interrupted, witnessed by stunned patrons who watched the helicopters take off, then saw one begin a terrifying, uncontrolled descent.
Witnesses described a sickening snap, followed by the first helicopter violently flipping and spinning downwards. A brief moment of hope for the second aircraft quickly dissolved as it too succumbed to the same fate, twisting and falling from the air after another distinct sound. The scene left onlookers shaken and in disbelief.
The impact left a stark contrast in wreckage. One helicopter, painted red, lay in relatively large, intact pieces. The other, however, was almost unrecognizable, a mangled and charred ruin. First responders rushed to the scene, desperately attempting to aid the pilots, with one airlifted to a nearby hospital before succumbing to his injuries.
Dan Dameshek, a Hammonton resident, recounted the horror of witnessing the event while leaving a gym. He described the immediate and rapid spinning of the first helicopter, followed by the second’s equally devastating descent. The sounds, he said, were unforgettable and the images, haunting.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have descended upon the crash site, meticulously gathering evidence to determine the cause of the collision. The small town of Hammonton, population 15,000, is grappling with the loss of two members of their community, friends whose lives were cut short in a heartbreaking instant.
The destination of the helicopters remains unknown, adding another layer of mystery to the tragedy. The investigation will undoubtedly focus on understanding the circumstances that led to this catastrophic event, seeking answers for the families and the community left reeling from the loss.
