Two die when helicopter crashes into a barge in the Mississippi River
Share and Follow


EAST ALTON, Ill. (AP) — A helicopter flying over the Mississippi River ran into a powerline Thursday, then crashed into a barge and sparked a fire, killing two people, officials said.

The two dead were flying in the helicopter and there were no other reported injuries in the crash near East Alton, Illinois, said Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. East Alton is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of St. Louis.

The state patrol said no one was on the barge when the crash happened, and the fire has been extinguished. The river has been closed to commercial traffic.

The helicopter ran into a powerline and crashed around 11 a.m. Thursday on the Mississippi River about half a mile (800 meters) downriver from the Alton Dam, said Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender.

Fire, emergency medical and law enforcement personnel responded to the crash. Federal agencies are on the way, Pender said. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

Video provided to KMOV-TV by a witness shows a black plume of smoke rising from the barge.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Gavin Newsom reveals the awkward text Kamala Harris sent to him

Gavin Newsom Discloses Unusual Text Message Received from Kamala Harris

California Governor Gavin Newsom was quick to throw his support behind former…
Ukraine sends Trump details of land it is prepared to give up

Ukraine Provides Trump with Information on Potential Land Concessions

In a development seen as pivotal in the ongoing peace negotiations, Donald…
Retired elementary teacher who worked as Santa arrested on child abuse material charges

Retired Elementary Teacher and Former Santa Claus Arrested for Child Abuse Material Offenses

A retired elementary schoolteacher from New Jersey, who had been working as…
Andy Dick slurs words in video weeks before apparent Hollywood overdose

Andy Dick’s Troubling Video Surfaces Amidst Health Concerns

Last month, a video resurfaced showing comedian Andy Dick appearing disoriented and…
Israel's war in Gaza: 4 Palestinian children in need of medical care arrive at O'Hare Airport in Chicago

Streamwood Standoff: Police Encircle Home for Hours Near Yellowstone and Kings Canyon Drives in Suspect Arrest Attempt

STREAMWOOD, Ill. — A suburban neighborhood in Streamwood was the focus of…
Lavrov warns Europe of retaliation as Zelenskyy opens reconstruction talks with Trump officials

Europe Faces Retaliation Threat as Zelenskyy Engages Trump Officials in Reconstruction Talks, Warns Lavrov

In a recent statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned that Moscow…
Three arrested in connection with Waycross murder, police say

Waycross Murder Case: Police Arrest Three Suspects in Connection to Homicide

Following a shooting incident on Isabella Street, Waycross police have apprehended three…
Furious Erika Kirk slams 'evil' claims about Charlie Kirk's murder

Erika Kirk Sets the Record Straight: Debunking ‘Evil’ Rumors Surrounding Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Murder

Erika Kirk has vehemently criticized the “evil” conspiracy theorists spreading vile rumors…