A devastating helicopter crash occurred in a wooded area of Burlington County, New Jersey, on Tuesday night, resulting in the tragic deaths of a pilot and a photographer. The helicopter, belonging to WPVI-TV, an ABC affiliate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore when the accident took place. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, as their families are still being notified. However, it has been revealed that both individuals had been long-time employees of the news station.
The crash occurred after 8 p.m. near Quaker Bridge Atsion Road and Mullica Hill Road in Washington Township. Prior to the incident, the helicopter had been flying over Wharton State Forest. New Jersey State Police promptly located the crash site on the ground.
The helicopter involved in the crash was leased by WPVI-TV from U.S. Helicopters Inc., a North Carolina-based company. The aircraft, a 2013 American Eurocopter AS-350A-STAR, had been in service for several years. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and an investigation is being conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
This tragic event serves as a reminder of the risks faced by news crews in their pursuit of delivering accurate and timely information to the public. The loss of these dedicated professionals is a profound tragedy, and our thoughts go out to their families, colleagues, and the entire journalism community affected by this incident.
