Crime
Pilots Identified as Kenneth Kirsch and Michael Greenberg in Fatal Midair Helicopter Collision in Hammonton
HAMMONTON, N.J. (Atlantic County) — A second helicopter pilot critically injured in a midair collision in South Jersey has died from his injuries, police confirmed Monday, bringing the death toll from the crash to two.
The collision occurred Sunday near Basin Road and White Horse Pike, shortly after both aircraft departed Hammonton Municipal Airport. Hammonton Police identified the pilots as Kenneth L. Kirsch, 65, of Carney’s Point, and Michael Greenberg, 71, of Sewell.
Police said Kirsch was piloting an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition following the crash.
Authorities confirmed Monday that Kirsch later succumbed to his injuries. Greenberg, who was flying an Enstrom 280C helicopter, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel described the two men as longtime friends who shared a deep passion for aviation and were well known at the local airport.
“They’ve been flying for quite some time,” Friel said. “They were kind of a staple at the Hammonton airport. They would frequently fly in, meet each other to have a meal together, and then fly out.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the pilots were the only occupants aboard both helicopters at the time of the crash.
Investigators said the aircraft had taken off from Hammonton Municipal Airport shortly before the 11:25 a.m. collision. When firefighters arrived, one of the helicopters was fully engulfed in flames.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from the FAA.
NTSB investigators returned to the crash site early Monday to document the debris field, which officials said extends approximately 100 yards.
A spokesperson for the NTSB said both helicopters are scheduled to be removed from the site on Tuesday and transported to a secure facility for further examination.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, though officials cautioned that the full investigation could take considerably longer.
“It’s going to be a little while,” Chief Friel said. “They are very meticulous. They try to recover every part and piece of each aircraft to determine whether there was a mechanical malfunction, a component failure, or possible pilot error.”
In a statement shared on social media, New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill expressed condolences to the victims’ families and gratitude for first responders.
“My heart is broken for the family of the pilot killed in yesterday’s fatal helicopter crash in Hammonton,” Sherrill wrote. “I am grateful for the emergency responders on the ground.”
Sherrill is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, adding personal weight to her remarks.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities said additional information will be released as it becomes available.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. — Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.