Two helicopter pilots have been confirmed dead following a mid-air collision over Hammonton, New Jersey, authorities said.
Police identified the victims as 65-year-old Kenneth L. Kirsch and 71-year-old Michael Greenberg, both residents of New Jersey.
Each man was the sole occupant of the aircraft involved in the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the incident occurred on Sunday at about 11:25 a.m. local time (16:25 GMT).
The collision involved two lightweight helicopters—an Enstrom 280C and an Enstrom F-28A—each typically designed to carry three people or fewer.
Hammonton, where the crash happened, is located roughly 35 miles (56 kilometres) southeast of Philadelphia, near the Atlantic City Expressway.
According to police, one of the helicopters burst into flames after crashing to the ground, prompting emergency responders to battle the fire at the scene.
The FAA has confirmed that a federal investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the collision, with the National Transportation Safety Board also involved in the probe.
The incident comes amid broader aviation safety concerns in the United States, although FAA data indicates that fatal helicopter accidents have generally declined over the past three years. Earlier in January, a separate aviation disaster involving a military helicopter and a passenger jet in Washington, DC, claimed 67 lives.
