A pair of pilots who died after their helicopters collided in New Jersey were friends and shared breakfast one last time at a cafe they would often visit before takeoffs.
Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, were identified on Monday as the pilots involved in the fatal crash in Hammonton that took place on Sunday around 11.30am.
Witnesses said the Enstrom 280C flown by Greenberg and the Enstrom F-28A flown by Kirsch were flying close together just before they collided, sending one chopper into a tree line in the 100 block of Basin Road and the other into a field near the Hammonton Municipal Airport.
Kirsch was airlifted to a hospital in Camden, where he succumbed to his injuries today, while Greenberg was pronounced dead on the scene, according to a press release by the Hammonton Police Department.
Shortly before the crash, the pair were spotted having breakfast at the Apron Cafe, said the owner, Sal Silipino, to WTXF.
Kirsch and Greenberg would often stop by the cafe, which is located in the airport, before their takeoffs.
Silipino watched the helicopters leave the airport and was horrified when the aircrafts spiraled down.
‘It was shocking. Still shaking to see that happen,’ Silipino told the outlet. ‘They were just at our café having breakfast.’
Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, shared a final meal together at the Apron Cafe before they fatally crashed while flying helicopters
Witnesses say they saw the choppers flying close together before they crashed
‘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.’
The pilot’s friendship was reiterated by the Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel, who told the News Channel: ‘They apparently are friends, fly into the airport, have a meal together at the café, and were leaving together. Friends.’
Both men received their private pilot licenses in 2014, according to FAA records.
Eyewitness footage captured a helicopter spinning out of control before slamming into the ground.
Another video posted on social media from a nearby Tractor Supply parking lot shows thick black smoke rising over the crash site.
Hammonton resident Dan Dameshek told NBC10 that as he was leaving a gym, he heard a loud snap and saw two helicopters out of control: ‘Immediately, the first helicopter went from right side up to upside down and started rapidly spinning, falling out of the air.’
Kirsch was airlifted to a hospital in Camden, where he succumbed to his injuries today, while Greenberg was pronounced dead on the scene
An examination of the accident site was conducted on Monday by the Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board
‘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.’
Another witness, Caitlyn Collins, told WPVI that one of the helicopters crashed in her backyard.
Collins ran over with her husband, neighbor, and an off-duty police officer and found the man conscious and breathing, and ‘kind of just looking around.’
‘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,’ she told the outlet.
An examination of the accident site was conducted on Monday by the Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board.
The helicopters are expected to be removed from their crash sites tomorrow and be brought to a different location to be further investigated
A spokesperson said the debris field is about 100 yards long and contains parts of the main rotors and tail rotors, according to the Associated Press.
The choppers are expected to be removed on Tuesday and taken to another location for further investigated.
The NTSB said a preliminary report is expected in about 30 days.
Acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way said she was made aware the crash and is monitoring the situation.
Hammonton has population of 15,000 and lies 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia.
