Two pilots were killed on the morning of December 28, 2025, after their helicopters collided in midair near Hammonton Municipal Airport in southern New Jersey, authorities confirmed.
The accident occurred at approximately 11:25 a.m. local time near a roadway about one mile from the airport. Both helicopters went down in a field, and one of the aircraft caught fire after impact.
The pilots were identified as Michael Greenberg, 71, of Sewell, New Jersey, and Kenneth L. Kirsch, 65, of Carneys Point, New Jersey. Greenberg was pronounced dead at the scene. Kirsch was transported to a trauma center, where he later died from his injuries.
According to local officials, preliminary information indicates the two helicopters had departed Hammonton Municipal Airport moments before the collision and were flying in close proximity to one another. Early reports suggest the aircraft may have been traveling together shortly after takeoff, though investigators cautioned that the circumstances remain under review.
Local news reports suggest the pilots departed after having breakfast together at an airport cafe, where they were described as regulars.
The helicopters involved were identified as an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C. One aircraft was registered to a charter company based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, while the other was privately owned and registered in Carneys Point, New Jersey, according to federal records.
Witnesses across the area reported seeing the helicopters flying unusually close together and at a relatively low altitude shortly before the collision. Several people described seeing one helicopter go down immediately, while the other appeared to remain airborne briefly before crashing.
One of the helicopters came down in a residential area, landing in the backyard of a Hammonton home. Neighbors and an off-duty police officer responded within minutes and provided assistance until emergency crews arrived. Authorities later confirmed that the injured pilot was conscious immediately after the crash, but he succumbed to injuries later at the hospital.
The accident is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigators will examine the pilots’ backgrounds, the aircraft, flight paths, and the operating environment.