- A pilot was killed after a violent collision with a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter near a runway at Carlisle Airport, but both state troopers aboard the helicopter survived, authorities said.
- The Cessna 150 was approaching the runway when it veered into the helicopter that was near the ground, according to Lt. Col. George Bivens, the state's acting police commissioner.
- The collision was extremely violent, destroying the Cessna and trapping the two troopers in the helicopter.
- One trooper managed to push out a window and helped the other escape; both troopers survived the incident.
- The identity of the deceased pilot is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
- The FAA and NTSB are investigating the incident, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has contacted the governor.
- The helicopter was performing a training exercise at Carlisle Airport when the collision occurred.
- The Cessna 150 is a two-seat aircraft commonly used for pilot training.
- Governor Josh Shapiro expressed relief that the incident could have been much worse, stating, "Tonight could've been much worse".
- Photos and videos on social media showed the helicopter on its side near aircraft debris in a field.
A pilot was killed after a Cessna 150 collided with a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter during a training exercise near a runway at a small airport in Carlisle, about 110 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The violent crash occurred as the Cessna approached the runway and veered into the Bell 407 helicopter, which was on the ground.129
Lt. Col. George Bivens, the state’s acting police commissioner, described the incident as extremely violent, stating, “When I say it was a very violent crash, that plane was cut into a lot of pieces.” Both troopers aboard the helicopter were initially trapped but managed to escape after one pushed out a window. “Tonight could’ve been much worse,” said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, expressing relief that the troopers survived.10
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident to determine the cause of the collision and whether any factors related to air traffic or training operations contributed. Officials have not released the identity of the deceased pilot, pending notification of next of kin. Photos from the scene showed the helicopter on its side amid debris, with emergency vehicles responding to the crash.5
The Cessna 150, a two-seat aircraft commonly used for training, was destroyed in the collision. The investigation will also confirm whether the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft at the time of the crash.
“The collision occurred during a training exercise, and the Cessna 150, a two-seat trainer, was destroyed. One trooper pushed out a window to help the other escape, and Gov. Josh Shapiro said, "Tonight could've been much worse."”
INDToday
