One dead, another critically injured in midair helicopter collision in New Jersey

One person was killed and another critically injured after two helicopters collided midair in southern New Jersey on Sunday, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) described the incident as a midair collision between two small helicopters near Hammonton Municipal Airport. Both helicopters were reported to be carrying only pilots , with no passengers on board.

Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said rescuers responded to a report of the crash at around 11:25 a.m. local time in the US . Police and fire crews later extinguished flames engulfing one of the helicopters. Video footage from the scene showed one helicopter spinning rapidly before crashing to the ground. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud snap and seeing both helicopters lose control.

One pilot died at the scene , while the other was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries . Authorities have not yet released the names or other personal details of the victims, pending family notification.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and are investigating the crash to determine the cause, including factors such as visibility, pilot communication, and whether both helicopters were able to see and avoid each other before the collision.