On a quiet Sunday morning in Hammonton, New Jersey, the routine hum of aviation at the local municipal airport was shattered by a tragedy that left the community reeling. At approximately 11:25 a.m. on December 29, 2025, two helicopters—an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C—collided midair shortly after taking off from Hammonton Municipal Airport, resulting in one pilot dead and another critically injured, according to multiple reports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), WPVI, Fox 29, CNN, and NBC News.
The crash site, near the intersection of Route 30 and Basin Road, just about a mile from the airport, quickly became a scene of chaos and disbelief. Both helicopters plummeted into a nearby field—one of them bursting into flames upon impact. The fiery wreckage, with twisted blades and charred fuselage, was a stark contrast to the peaceful morning the town had expected.
Eyewitnesses described a harrowing sequence of events. Diana Cleuff, a local resident, told WPVI, “They were flying lower than I would presume a helicopter would be, and they were flying really close together, like too close. I say to myself, 'My God I hope they are just flying too close, I hope they don't clip each other.' And the minute I said it to myself, the impact occurred.”
Another witness, Dan Dameshek, shared with NBC News that he was leaving a nearby gym when he heard a “loud snap” reminiscent of a car crash. He turned to see one helicopter spin out of control and crash, followed by the other. “For a second it looked like the other helicopter was OK, then I heard another smack like metal slapping metal and it started spinning out of control and that’s what you see on the video,” Dameshek recalled.
The two pilots, the sole occupants of their respective aircraft, had just finished breakfast together at the airport’s Apron Café, a beloved spot among local flyers. Sal Silipino, owner of the café, told Fox 29 and WPVI, “They were just at our café having breakfast, they're regulars, they come in, they seem to be very nice people. They fly in together. They seemed to be very kind to all the workers and staff.” Silipino watched the helicopters take off, never imagining the tragedy that would unfold moments later. “We looked up, and I saw the one spiraling down. I didn’t see him hit. Then I saw the other one go down. It was disbelief—like, is that really happening?” he said.
Chief Kevin Friel of the Hammonton Police Department provided further insight into the moments leading up to the crash. Early reports indicated the helicopters were flying in tandem, a practice not uncommon among friends but one that can be risky if not executed with care. “Reports were that they were flying in tandem, that they were flying close together, which is probably what caused the collision to occur,” Friel told WPVI and Fox 29. He emphasized the fortune that the crash occurred over an open field rather than a populated or industrial area. “It could have gone a lot worse, and there could have been a lot more loss of life,” Friel noted.
The immediate aftermath was tense and emotional. Caitlyn Collins, whose backyard became the crash site for one of the helicopters, described the scene to WPVI: “I just heard this wub, wub, wub sound...and I was like, 'What is that?' My husband just starts screaming, 'Call 911.'” Rushing outside with a neighbor—an off-duty police officer—they found one pilot conscious but clearly in distress. “The only thing I could think to do was hold his hand and talk to him, so I just laid in the ground next to him and was like, 'Hey, we're here, don't worry,'” Collins said.
Authorities confirmed that one pilot was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was airlifted to a regional trauma center with life-threatening injuries. Hammonton Fire Department Chief Sean Macri told CNN that one of the victims was in “possible cardiac arrest” upon being loaded into an ambulance. As of the latest updates, the surviving pilot remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a comprehensive investigation into the crash. The NTSB dispatched an investigator to the scene to collect flight track data, maintenance records, communications with air traffic control, and witness statements. The agency stated, “After the wreckage of both helicopters are documented, they will then be moved to a secure facility for further evaluation.” A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, but it could take up to two years for a final determination of the cause.
Both pilots were from the tri-state area, though their names have not yet been released by local authorities. The close-knit aviation community at Hammonton Municipal Airport, and indeed the wider region, has been left in shock. The Hammonton Fire Department has urged bystanders to avoid the crash site as emergency services continue their work.
The incident has drawn attention and condolences from public officials. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker posted on social media, “Reports of this morning’s fatal helicopter crash over South Jersey are horrifying and tragic. My heart is with those impacted and their families.” Senator Andy Kim echoed the sentiment, writing that the community “will rally behind the family of the individual who lost their life as we navigate this terrible tragedy.”
Hammonton, a town of roughly 14,000 nestled near the New Jersey Pine Barrens and about 35 miles from Philadelphia, is not accustomed to such calamity. The airport, typically a hub for recreational pilots and small aircraft, now finds itself at the center of a federal investigation that will likely examine every aspect of the flight, from the pilots’ histories to the maintenance records of the helicopters.
As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the safety protocols for tandem flying and what specific missteps, if any, contributed to the collision. The aviation community is left to grapple with the loss of a fellow pilot and the critical injuries suffered by another, while waiting for answers that may take months—or even years—to fully emerge.
For now, Hammonton remembers two friends who shared a passion for flight, a meal before takeoff, and, tragically, a final journey together. The scars left behind—both physical and emotional—will serve as a sobering reminder of the risks inherent in aviation and the fragility of life, even on the most ordinary of mornings.
