NTSB initiates removal of wreckage from fatal New Jersey helicopter crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently working on removing the helicopters involved in a tragic crash in Hammonton. The accident took place shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, following the helicopters' departure from Hammonton Municipal Airport. The crash resulted in the deaths of both pilots, Michael Greenberg, aged 71, and Kenneth Kirsch, aged 65. Greenberg passed away at the crash site, while Kirsch was transported to Cooper Trauma Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Debris from the mid-air collision, which occurred in a field off Basin Road, is being collected by investigators. The NTSB is making plans to relocate the wreckage to a secure facility for further analysis. John Gagliano, a former Navy pilot and aviation lawyer, mentioned, "There is certainly a lot involved and the first thing they want to look at is the scene of the accident of what information they can get from the evidence about how the aircraft landed." According to aviation experts, the helicopters were allegedly flying in close proximity before the crash, engaging in formation flying, a practice permitted under FAA regulations if both pilots agree and have the requisite training. Greenberg and Kirsch were friends who had breakfast together at a nearby restaurant before taking the flight. Sal Silipino, owner of Apron Cafe, where the pair were regular customers, expressed disbelief at the tragedy. The exact cause of the collision remains under investigation, with the NTSB and FAA set to review the pilots' qualifications, training, and the aircraft's condition.