2 Killed In Helicopter Crash While Working On Power Lines Near Mississippi River – Read full story below.
Two people workings on powerlines approach the Mississippi River die Thursday when their chopper hit the line , crash into a flatboat and trip a fire that burp plume of blackness fume , official state .
The chopper crew was approach East Alton , Illinois , astir 20 mile ( 32 kilometer ) north of St. Louis , when it stagger into the flatboat on the Missouri side of the river . Government state no other injury be report .
Adam Briggs was sportfishing on the shore that morn , observation the chopper zig-zag across the river and finally choice up a worker with a marker ball to add to a line .
After a legal brief glimpse at his telephone , Briggs look dorsum up to see piece of the chopper immerse toward the flatboat , then he hear a knock and saw fume .
“ I was in daze and awe of what I was really visual perception , just incredulity , ” Briggs state The Associated Press . The veteran soldier and former aircraft fireman name 911 then get down cinematography and madly describe the clang .
“ There was a airplane pilot , there was a worker , the chopper blow up and hide and crash in that flatboat and it ‘s explode right now , ” he say in the picture . Explosion continue for several proceedings . “ They ‘re dead . They rich person to be dead . ”
A interpreter for the powerfulness company Ameren state a contractor and subcontractor had be repair and replacement tower light and marker ball on line . “ Our idea and dear condolence are with the victim ‘ family and colleague , ” Ameren state in a statement .
The name calling of the worker who be kill rich person not be let go of .
Air power expert say this type of work is park for public utility company , but fatal clang are rare .
Hassan Shahidi , president and CEO of Flight Safety Foundation , state the airplane pilot must be able to support the chopper hover steadily in topographic point and that research worker volition see if air current or a sudden alteration in the ambiance play a function in the clang .
Briggs state he felt a zephyr but that it did n’t look very blowy .
Powerfulness line are a key jeopardy for any chopper airplane pilot because they can be hard to see , state Thomas Anthony , manager of USC ‘s Aviation Safety and Security Program .
Antony remember an attendant at an air power conference who approach him after Anthony give a public lecture and ask if he ‘d of all time hear astir “ the dreaming . ”
“ Helicopter pilot all dreaming in fearfulness ” astir powerfulness line , the man explain .
In 2018 , a chopper crew string new powerlines crash in Pennsylvania , violent death two people and injure the airplane pilot .
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board volition look into the clang , and an NTSB research worker is expect to get on land site Friday .
Antony state research worker volition likely see if the chopper contractor had a safety direction system in topographic point to extenuate hazard .
The chopper crash about 11 a.m. Thursday on the Mississippi River astir one-half a statute mile ( 800 meter ) downstream from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam , state Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender . Number one respondent arrive from the Illinois and Missouri side of the river .
The fire section rush by boat to the clang land site and a buck private tug boat help to put out the fire , state Alton Deputy Fire Chief Matt Fischer . No one was on the flatboat when it was strike .
The river has be close to commercial message traffic .
Reflect on the accident , Briggs state AP it was emotional to ticker and that he has great regard for the worker .
“ Those guy rich person a very unsafe job . They are make it for other people ‘s safety , ” he state . “ It return a brave individual to do it . ”
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