BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ – A tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday night as a local news helicopter crashed in a secluded part of Burlington County, New Jersey, resulting in the deaths of a pilot and a photographer. The helicopter was returning from a news assignment at the Jersey Shore when the unfortunate event occurred.
The helicopter was operated by WPVI-TV, an ABC affiliate based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed as the process of notifying their families is still ongoing. However, it was reported that both individuals had been long-standing employees at the news station.
The crash occurred post 8 p.m. near the intersection of Quaker Bridge Atsion Road and Mullica Hill Road in Washington Township. The last known location of the helicopter before the crash was over Wharton State Forest.
The crash site was discovered by the New Jersey State Police. The helicopter, a 2013 American Eurocopter AS-350A-STAR, was leased to WPVI-TV by U.S. Helicopters Inc., a company based in North Carolina.
The cause of the crash remains uncertain. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently conducting an investigation into the incident.