South Brunswick, NJ – A helicopter crash in South Brunswick claimed the life of a pilot Thursday afternoon. The Robinson R22 helicopter went down in a canal close to Carnegie Lake at 3:45 p.m., shortly after taking off from Princeton Airport.
Local police reported the aircraft was airborne for just four minutes before the incident occurred. Witnesses, including a firehouse captain from Kingston, alerted authorities after observing the helicopter flying erratically.
The remote and wooded location posed challenges for first responders, who nonetheless reached the scene within five minutes. Upon arrival, they found the helicopter inverted in the water, its structure fully compromised.
A police officer and a firefighter entered the canal, which was about three feet deep, to retrieve the pilot. Despite their efforts, the pilot, who suffered severe injuries, could not be saved.
Federal Aviation Administration officials are investigating the accident. In total, approximately 36 emergency personnel responded to the scene.
