The second pilot has died in Sunday's helicopter crash over Hammonton, according to authorities.
Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, were the pilots, who had just taken off from the Hammonton Municipal Airport, where they had eaten together as they often did.
Kirsch's Enstrom F-28A and Greenberg's E280C collided mid-air at about 11:25 a.m., according to the FAA, which is investigating along with the National Transportation Safety Board. Only the pilots were on board each aircraft.
Statements from witnesses had the two helicopters flying close together just before the crash, according to Hammonton police. The crash site was approximately a mile and a half from the airport in a farm field.
The two had just eaten together at the Apron Cafe at the airport, owner Sal Silipino told 6ABC, adding that they were regulars.
The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates.
Greenberg, who lived in Sewell, Gloucester County, was pronounced dead at the scene. Records list the owner as M&M Charter LLC out of Mountville, Pa., in Lancaster County.
Kirsch, who lived in Carney's Point, Salem County, was flown to an area hospital, where he died of his injuries.
FlightAware, a flight-tracking platform, shows both men left Vineland-Downstown Airport before heading to Hammonton. Greenberg's take-off time was 9:49 a.m., with Kirsch taking off a minute later.
But while Greenberg shows an arrival at 9:56 a.m., Kirsch's entry shows only that he was "last seen" at that time near Atlantic City.
Kirsch does not have a take-off listing from Hammonton. Greenberg's entry shows that he departed the Hammonton airport at 11:24 a.m., and went down at that same time.
Hammonton resident Caitlyn Collins told CBS Philadelphia that she heard the crash in her backyard, and ran to the site, where she saw the pilot inside the red helicopter, which was Kirsch's aircraft.
"He was breathing, and he was looking around," she said as her voice broke. "I just held his hand. I just told him everything was going to be OK."
Collins said she stayed with him until paramedics arrived.
The scene is still being held for investigation.
"I don’t have much information that everyone probably doesn’t already know by now but yes, two helicopters did collide and crash in my backyard," she wrote on Facebook. "Please pray for all involved. From a first hand I can not say enough about the first responders who arrived to help us. What an amazing job, arriving only moments after."
Several videos posted online showed some of the incident, but the Hammonton Fire Department warned that some photos and videos were either AI generated or from prior incidents "being falsely depicted as coming from this incident."
"We also ask community members to think before sharing content as this is a tragic incident and an ongoing investigation."
This story is developing.
