A police helicopter and a small plane tragically collided at an airport in Pennsylvania, leaving one person dead and two state troopers injured.
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The incident occurred at Carlisle Airport in Cumberland County at around 7:50 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
A two-seat Cessna 150 collided with a Bell 407 helicopter, killing the airplane's pilot and injuring two Pennsylvania State Police troopers aboard the helicopter.
Airport Crash Leaves Pilot Dead and Two Troopers Injured
Early reports indicate that the pilot who died was the only person on board the Cessna at the time of the collision.
Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens, Acting Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, said that the plane was "cut into a lot of pieces" during the crash.
Authorities have not yet publicly identified the deceased pilot as officials work to notify the family.
Authorities identified the two Pennsylvania State Police troopers as Corporal Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills. Both serve as experienced pilots with the department's aviation unit.
Emergency crews transported Corman and Mills to the hospital for treatment, with both troopers likely to make a full recovery.
Dr. Ludwig of the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center said one of the troopers could leave the hospital as early as Wednesday night.
Doctors admitted the other trooper for further treatment.
Police Helicopter Was Conducting Routine Training
The state police pilots were reportedly carrying out routine training exercises when the collision occurred.
The helicopter was hovering above a grassy area near the runway when the Cessna began approaching.
According to early accounts of the incident, the plane veered to the right at the last moment. It then struck the rear of the helicopter near its tail rotor.
Bivens said that the impact resulted "in a very violent crash".
"The pilots would not have been able to even see that airplane approaching them," he added.
The Federal Aviation Administration said its investigators arrived at the crash site late Wednesday. While the National Transportation Safety Board was expected to arrive overnight.
Both agencies will lead the investigation, with assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police.
Investigators will now work to establish exactly how the two aircraft came into contact and determine the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.
