Two helicopters collided mid-air on Sunday near the town of Hammonton in New Jersey, leaving one person dead and another critically injured, according to local authorities. The crash happened close to Hammonton Municipal Airport in Atlantic County, where emergency crews rushed to the scene after reports of smoke and fire.
New Jersey: Helicopter burst into flames after hitting the ground
According to the Hammonton Police Department, one of the helicopters was already engulfed in flames when it crash-landed. Firefighters and rescue crews worked to put out the flames and secure the area.
The second helicopter crashed into a nearby wooded area. It led to a large rescue operation involving several agencies. Officials said only the pilots were inside the helicopters at the time of the crash. “There is confirmed one fatality at this point and one subject transported by EMS with critical life-threatening injuries,” Police Department confirmed on Facebook.
Videos of the crash appeared on social media. Thick smoke could be seen rising from the area as emergency teams rushed to the scene.
🚨#BREAKING: Emergency crews are responding to the scene after Two helicopters have crashed and collided in mid air
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) December 28, 2025
📌#Hammonton | #NewJersey
Law enforcement and emergency crews are responding to a serious incident in Hammonton, New Jersey, where two helicopters reportedly… pic.twitter.com/JYq5NSljrj
🚨#UPDATE: Watch as new footage shows one of the helicopters can be seen spinning out of control reports say at least one fatality has occurred the cause of the crash is unknown pic.twitter.com/u0sPkfvYoT
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) December 28, 2025
FAA and NTSB launch investigation
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the crash happened between two Enstrom helicopters, an Enstrom 280C and an Enstrom F-28A. The collision happened at around 11:25 am Eastern Time. Both helicopters are lightweight aircraft that usually carry three people or less.
The FAA said a federal investigation will be carried out to find out what caused the mid-air collision. The National Transportation Safety Board will also take part in the investigation. So far, authorities have not shared details about how the helicopters collided or what went wrong during the flight.
One victim critically injured, another confirmed dead
According to police, one person was rushed for emergency treatment with critical, life-threatening injuries. Scanner communications later suggested that two were found at the scene. Out of them, one was already pronounced dead, and another suffered cardiac arrest.Both were transported by air for emergency care. Officials are yet to confirm the identities of those involved.
Several roads, including parts of White Horse Pike and Route 206, were temporarily closed. Search and recovery operations continued into the evening. The crash comes months after a deadly incident in January, when a military helicopter collided with a passenger jet in Washington, DC, killing 67 people.
“The Hammonton Fire Department, along with assisting agencies, is currently responding to an aviation-related incident in the area of Basin Road and WHP. Please avoid the area to allow emergency personnel to operate safely,” The Hammonton Fire Department said on Facebook.
Officials warn against fake crash images on social media
Local officials have warned people not to believe or share images and videos that are spreading online and claiming to show the incident. The Hammonton Fire Department said on social media that some of the pictures and clips being shared were created using artificial intelligence and do not actually come from the crash scene.
“We also ask community members to think before sharing content, as this is a tragic incident and an ongoing investigation,” the fire department added in its Facebook post. They said spreading false or misleading images can cause confusion and unnecessary distress