The two pilots killed in a mid-air helicopter crash in New Jersey have been identified as a pair of friends who enjoyed one final last act of friendship before their tragic deaths.
The two pilots have been identified as 65-year-old Kenneth Kirsch and 71-year-old Michael Greenberg.
A heartbreaking tale of friendship cut short
The pair were firm friends who both lived in New Jersey and shared a mutual love of helicopter flying.
They were both tragically killed when their helicopters collided near Hammonton, about 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia.
In a statement, Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel confirmed that Kirsch was declared dead in hospital, whereas Greenberg died at the crash site.
He said: “Statements from witnesses had the two helicopters flying close together just before the crash,
“The crash site was approximately a mile and a half from the airport in a farm field.”
An investigation is underway, conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The crash has been described as a mid-air collision over Hammonton Municipal Airport, with only the pilots aboard the Enstrom 28A and Enstrom 280C helicopters at the time of the crash.
A final meal with an old friend
One tragic detail that has emerged after the incident was revealed by Sal Silipino, the owner of a cafe near to the crash site.
He claimed that the two pilots were regulars at his eatery and would often join one another for breakfast before a flight.
He described seeing both helicopters take off, before spiralling down one after the other.
Silipino said: “It was shocking.
“Still shaking to see that happen.
“They were just at our café having breakfast.”
He added: “They’re regulars. They come in every week or every other week.
“They fly in together. They seem to be very nice people.
“They were also very kind to the workers and staff and all.”
Friel also confirmed that the pair were friends, explaining: “They apparently are friends, fly into the airport, have a meal together at the café, and were leaving together. Friends.”
Describing the crash to NBC10 afterwards, local resident Dan Dameshek said: “Immediately, the first helicopter went from right side up to upside down and started rapidly spinning, falling out of the air,
“And then it looked like the second helicopter was OK for a second, and then it sounded like another snap or something … and then that helicopter started rapidly spinning out of the air.”
Investigators are likely to look into any comms between the two pilots, as well as finding out whether they could see each other at the time.
At the time of the crash, visibility was good and winds were light, according to local weather forecasts.