TWO people have died after a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River.

The pair on board sadly passed away after their chopper hit power lines and plunged into the vessel, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Think grey smoke was seen pluming from the barge in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The incident took place around Alton in St Charles County, Missouri, at around 11.05am on Thursday.

The barge had been stationed close to Maple Island.

“The helicopter was just working on these powerlines. The powerline blew up,” said a person recording the footage as reported by The Mirror.

“There was a pilot, there was a worker. It’s exploding right now.”

The ensuing blaze was put out quickly, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Investigators are currently establishing if anyone was on board the barge at the time of the crash.

However, it is believed that there was not, according to First Alert 4.