New Jersey helicopter crash: Two dead as ABC Action News chopper smashes into woods
Two have been killed after a horrific helicopter crash in woodland. The chopper[1] crashed at around 8pm in a wooded area of Burlington County in Washington Township, New Jersey. The two-person crew were on board ABC Action News’ Chopper 6 when it crashed and it was last airborne over Wharton State Forest.
New Jersey State Police[2] rushed to the crash site to seal it off and the Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation. Those involved in the crash have not yet been identified but ABC affiliate WPVI[3] said the pair have a “long history” with the station and had worked there for several years. It is unknown what caused the devastating crash.
On the organisation’s website it said: “It has been a devastating day for the Action News team after two crew members on board Chopper 6 were killed in a crash[4] on Tuesday night.” For all the latest on news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US[5]
The ABC Action News helicopter crashed in woods in New Jersey (6abc)
And other colleagues of the victims and fellow reporters quickly paid tribute online after it emerged the pair had died in the horrific incident. Action News news anchor Matt O’Donnell wrote: “All of us at 6abc want to express our deepest condolences to their family and friends,” while Fox 29 reporter Steve Keeley posted: “Condolences to our colleagues at Channel 6 on loss of their Action News team members in helicopter crash in New Jersey last night.”
The crash site was strewn with wreckage (6abc)
The crash site is extremely difficult to access due to it being deep in the woods.
Chopper 6 was used by the news team to gain access to areas that are tough to reach on the ground. The helicopter and its crew helps with gathering news such as the weather[6] and aerial shots following incidents on the road. The team were returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore.
Click hereto follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories[7] It has been reported that 6abc lease the 2013 American Eurocopter AS-350 A-Star helicopter from US Helicopters Inc. in North Carolina. The company has contacted the families of those involved in the crash.
The shocking incident comes a little more than a year after two employees at WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina, were killed in a horrific helicopter crash. Meteorologist[8] Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag were found dead after the helicopter they were using crashed along Interstate 77.