One dead, one critically hurt after two helicopters collide in south jersey

HAMMONTON, N.J. – A mid-air collision between two helicopters turned deadly Sunday morning in Hammonton, sending one aircraft plunging into flames and killing one person while critically injuring another, officials said.

The crash happened just after 11 a.m. near Basin Road and North White Horse Pike, less than three miles from Hammonton Airport. Police said the helicopters collided above the 100 block of Basin Road before both went down. One of the aircraft erupted in flames on impact as emergency crews rushed to extinguish the fire.

Hammonton police confirmed that one victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while another was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Their identities have not yet been released.

Dramatic footage circulating on social media showed a thick column of black smoke rising from the crash site, recorded from the parking lot of a nearby Tractor Supply Co. store as stunned witnesses watched from a distance.

Photo: one dead, one critically hurt after two helicopters collide in south jersey

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and will lead the investigation into what caused the helicopters to collide.

Police urged residents to avoid Basin Road as recovery and investigative operations continued through the afternoon.

Authorities say one person was killed and another critically injured after two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed near Hammonton Airport.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.