Midair collision in Pennsylvania kills small plane pilot, injures state troopers

A midair collision on Wednesday night involving a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter and a small airplane killed the pilot of the plane and injured two state troopers, according to officials.

A Bell 407 helicopter and a Cessna 150 airplane collided near Carlisle Airport at around 7:50 p.m. in central Pennsylvania, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens said the police helicopter was conducting routine training near a grassy area at Carlisle Airport when the collision occurred, which is located about 120 miles west of Philadelphia.

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“The Cessna plane, for an unknown reason, veered to the right at the last moment, struck the helicopter from the rear, hit the tail rotor and the main rotor, resulting in a violent crash” Bivens said at a news briefing.

The circumstances leading to the collision remain under investigation, and federal investigators have not determined a probable cause.

The one-person inside the plane died in the incident, Bivens said.

“The one known occupant of the Cessna did not survive the crash. We believe only the pilot was in the Cessna,” he said.

Both state troopers inside the helicopter were initially trapped before being able to get out. They were injured and transported to a hospital but are expected to recover, according to Gov. Josh Shapiro.

“I’m pleased to say that after an aviation accident, two Pennsylvania State Troopers, while injured, are going to be okay,” he said at the news briefing.

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“Lori and I are praying hard and we ask all of our fellow Pennsylvanians to join us,” the governor wrote earlier on social media.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with the FAA assisting.