A helicopter flying over the Mississippi River ran into a powerline then crashed into a barge and sparked a fire, killing two people.
Read full article: Keep pets away from floodwaters in the Texas Hill Country, expert warnsOne month post-flood, United Cajun Navy remains a presence in Hill Country recovery efforts Read full article: One month post-flood, United Cajun Navy remains a presence in Hill Country recovery efforts KSAT’s Ernie Zuniga visits with Judge William ‘Cruz’ Shaw about growing up with a single mom, why he walked away from a military career, and morePickup Lines: Bexar County Juvenile District Court judge reflects on childhood, military service and helping kidsThis image provided by Adam Briggs shows smoke fills the air from a barge after a helicopter crash in the Mississippi River near Alton, Ill.
, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. A tarp covers the wreckage of a helicopter after it clipped a power line spanning the Mississippi River and crashed onto a barge Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in East Alton, Ill. This image provided by Adam Briggs shows smoke fills the air from a barge after a helicopter crash in the Mississippi River near Alton, Ill., on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. A blue tarp covers the wreckage of a helicopter after it clipped a power line spanning the Mississippi River and crashed onto a barge Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in East Alton, Ill. This image provided by Adam Briggs shows smoke fills the air from a barge after a helicopter crash in the Mississippi River near Alton, Ill., on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. – Two people working on powerlines near the Mississippi River died Thursday when their helicopter hit the lines, crashed into a barge and sparked a fire that belched plumes of black smoke, officials said. The helicopter crew was near East Alton, Illinois, about 20 miles north of St. Louis, when it careened into the barge on the Missouri side of the river. Authorities said no other injuries were reported.Adam Briggs was fishing on the shore that morning, watching the helicopter zig-zag across the river and eventually pick up a worker with a marker ball to add to a line. After a brief glance at his phone, Briggs looked back up to see pieces of the helicopter plunging toward the barge, then he heard a bang and saw smoke. “I was in shock and awe of what I was actually seeing, just disbelief," Briggs told The Associated Press. The veteran and former aircraft firefighter called 911 then starting filming and frantically describing the crash. “There was a pilot, there was a worker, the helicopter blew up and fell and crashed in that barge and it’s exploding right now," he says in the video. Explosions continued for several minutes. “They're dead. They have to be dead." A spokesperson for the power company Ameren said a contractor and subcontractor had been repairing and replacing tower lighting and marker balls on lines. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims’ families and colleagues,” Ameren said in a statement.Aviation experts say this type of work is common for utility companies, but fatal crashes are rare. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of Flight Safety Foundation, said the pilot must be able to keep the helicopter hovering steadily in place and that investigators will consider if wind or a sudden change in the atmosphere played a role in the crash.Power lines are a key hazard for any helicopter pilot because they can be difficult to see, said Thomas Anthony, director of USC’s Aviation Safety and Security Program. Anthony recalled an attendee at an aviation conference who approached him after Anthony gave a lecture and asked if he’d had ever heard about “the dream.”The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, and an NTSB investigator is expected to arrive on site Friday. Anthony said investigators will likely consider if the helicopter contractor had a safety management system in place to mitigate risks. The helicopter crashed around 11 a.m. Thursday on the Mississippi River about half a mile downriver from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam, said Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender. First responders arrived from the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river. The fire department rushed by boat to the crash site and a private tug boat helped to douse the flames, said Alton Deputy Fire Chief Matt Fischer. No one was on the barge when it was struck.Reflecting on the accident, Briggs told AP it was emotional to watch and that he has great respect for the workers. “Those guys have a very dangerous job. They are doing it for other people’s safety,” he said. “It takes a brave person to do it.”Bedayn reported from Denver, Tareen from Chicago and Yamat from Las Vegas. Associated Press reporters Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota, and Beatrice Dupuy in New York City contributed. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Two die when helicopter crashes into a barge in the Mississippi RiverA helicopter crashed Thursday morning into a barge in the Mississippi River near East Alton, Illinois, leaving two people dead.
Read more »
Two die when helicopter crashes into a barge in the Mississippi RiverA helicopter flying over the Mississippi River ran into a powerline then crashed into a barge and sparked a fire, killing two people.
Read more »
Helicopter crashes into barge on Mississippi River near St. Louis, killing 2 peopleThe helicopter ran into a powerline and crashed Thursday morning on the Mississippi River, officials said.
Read more »
Helicopter Crashes into Upper Mississippi River Barge Near St. Louis, Two DeadAccording to initial accounts, the aircraft collided with a barge on the upper Mississippi River, sparking a fire on impact.
Read more »
Two people killed after helicopter hits power line and crashes into barge on Mississippi RiverFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
At least two dead after helicopter crashes into Mississippi River bargeHelicopter crashes into Mississippi River barge
Read more »