State Police Helicopter STRUCK Mid-Air During Training — One Dead, Two Troopers Injured

Liberty Check

• Pennsylvania State Police helicopter hit by small Cessna aircraft during routine training exercise in central Pennsylvania
• Cessna pilot killed instantly; two state troopers trapped in helicopter wreckage but expected to recover
• Federal investigation underway to determine why civilian aircraft veered into law enforcement helicopter

A midair collision on Wednesday night claimed the life of a civilian pilot and left two Pennsylvania state troopers injured after a small aircraft struck a police helicopter during a routine training exercise.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:50 p.m. in Carlisle, located about 120 miles west of Philadelphia, when a Cessna 150 airplane collided with a Bell 407 helicopter operated by Pennsylvania State Police.

Acting Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens detailed the tragic sequence of events at a news briefing following the crash.

“The Cessna plane, for an unknown reason, veered to the right at the last moment, struck the helicopter from the rear, hit the tail rotor and the main rotor, resulting in a violent crash.”

The police helicopter had been conducting routine training in a grassy area when it was struck by the civilian aircraft. The impact proved fatal for the Cessna’s sole occupant.

“The one known occupant of the Cessna did not survive the crash,” Bivens confirmed. “We believe only the pilot was in the Cessna.”

Both state troopers aboard the helicopter were initially trapped in the wreckage before managing to escape. While injured, both law enforcement officers are expected to make full recoveries, according to Governor Josh Shapiro.

“I’m pleased to say that after an aviation accident, two Pennsylvania State Troopers, while injured, are going to be okay,” Shapiro said at the briefing.

The governor and First Lady Lori Shapiro requested prayers for all those affected by the tragedy.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the collision, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigators will work to determine why the civilian aircraft veered into the path of the clearly visible law enforcement helicopter during training operations.

This incident raises serious questions about airspace safety protocols and civilian aircraft operations in areas where law enforcement conducts training exercises.

Our freedoms depend on staying vigilant.