Tragic Helicopter Collision Claims Lives of Two New Jersey Pilots Who Regularly Visited Local Cafe

Tragedy struck in New Jersey last weekend when two helicopters collided midair, resulting in the deaths of both pilots. Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, were experienced aviators who had earned their private pilot licenses over a decade ago. The two men were known to frequent a local café near the crash site, often enjoying breakfast together before taking off from the nearby airport.

Authorities identified the victims on Monday, revealing that the collision occurred in a farm field near Hammonton, approximately 35 miles (56 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopters flying closely together just before the tragic incident.

Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel stated that Kirsch, a resident of Carney’s Point, was pronounced dead at a local hospital after being transported there, while Greenberg, from Sewell, succumbed to his injuries at the crash site.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the accident. Preliminary findings indicate that the debris field spans about 100 yards (91 meters) and includes parts of both helicopters’ main and tail rotors. The aircraft are scheduled to be removed from the site for further analysis.

Café Regulars

Emergency responders received reports of the aviation crash around 11:25 a.m. on Sunday. Eyewitness footage captured one helicopter spinning rapidly before plummeting to the ground, while police and fire crews worked to extinguish the flames engulfing one of the aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has classified the incident as a midair collision involving an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and an Enstrom 280C helicopter, with only the pilots aboard.

Records from the FAA reveal that both Kirsch and Greenberg obtained their private pilot licenses in 2014. They were regular patrons at the Apron Café adjacent to the airport, where they often enjoyed breakfast before their flights. Café owner Sal Silipino noted that the two men had dined there shortly before the crash, and patrons were shocked to witness the helicopters take off only to see them fall from the sky.

“It was shocking. I’m still shaking to see that happen,” Silipino remarked. “They were just at our café having breakfast. They were regulars, coming in every week or every other week. They seemed like very nice people, always kind to the staff.”

Silipino described how the helicopters appeared to take off without any issues, only to witness the devastating crash moments later.

Loud Snap

According to FAA records, Kirsch was the registered owner of one helicopter, while the other belonged to M&M Charter LLC based in Mountville, Pennsylvania. Attempts to reach M&M Charter for comment were unsuccessful.

Hammonton resident Dan Dameshek recounted hearing a loud snap as he left a gym, witnessing the two helicopters spiraling out of control. “The first helicopter flipped upside down and began spinning rapidly,” he said. “Then the second helicopter seemed fine for a moment, but then it also started spinning out of the air.”

Hammonton, a town of about 15,000 residents in Atlantic County, has a rich agricultural history and is situated near the expansive Pine Barrens, a forested wilderness covering over 1 million acres (405,000 hectares).

Investigators will likely focus on reviewing communications between the two pilots and assessing their visibility of each other at the time of the crash. Alan Diehl, a former crash investigator for the FAA and NTSB, emphasized that most midair collisions result from a failure to “see and avoid.”

Despite the cloudy conditions at the time, winds were light, and visibility was reported to be good, according to AccuWeather.

Photo: Debris from a helicopter is shown after two helicopters crashed in Hammonton, N.J., on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP)

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics
New Jersey

Tragedy struck in New Jersey last weekend when two helicopters collided midair, resulting in the deaths of both pilots. Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, were experienced aviators who had earned their private pilot licenses over a decade ago. The two men were known to frequent a local café near the crash site, often enjoying breakfast together before taking off from the nearby airport.

Authorities identified the victims on Monday, revealing that the collision occurred in a farm field near Hammonton, approximately 35 miles (56 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopters flying closely together just before the tragic incident.

Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel stated that Kirsch, a resident of Carney’s Point, was pronounced dead at a local hospital after being transported there, while Greenberg, from Sewell, succumbed to his injuries at the crash site.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the accident. Preliminary findings indicate that the debris field spans about 100 yards (91 meters) and includes parts of both helicopters’ main and tail rotors. The aircraft are scheduled to be removed from the site for further analysis.

Café Regulars

Emergency responders received reports of the aviation crash around 11:25 a.m. on Sunday. Eyewitness footage captured one helicopter spinning rapidly before plummeting to the ground, while police and fire crews worked to extinguish the flames engulfing one of the aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has classified the incident as a midair collision involving an Enstrom F-28A helicopter and an Enstrom 280C helicopter, with only the pilots aboard.

Records from the FAA reveal that both Kirsch and Greenberg obtained their private pilot licenses in 2014. They were regular patrons at the Apron Café adjacent to the airport, where they often enjoyed breakfast before their flights. Café owner Sal Silipino noted that the two men had dined there shortly before the crash, and patrons were shocked to witness the helicopters take off only to see them fall from the sky.

“It was shocking. I’m still shaking to see that happen,” Silipino remarked. “They were just at our café having breakfast. They were regulars, coming in every week or every other week. They seemed like very nice people, always kind to the staff.”

Silipino described how the helicopters appeared to take off without any issues, only to witness the devastating crash moments later.

Loud Snap

According to FAA records, Kirsch was the registered owner of one helicopter, while the other belonged to M&M Charter LLC based in Mountville, Pennsylvania. Attempts to reach M&M Charter for comment were unsuccessful.

Hammonton resident Dan Dameshek recounted hearing a loud snap as he left a gym, witnessing the two helicopters spiraling out of control. “The first helicopter flipped upside down and began spinning rapidly,” he said. “Then the second helicopter seemed fine for a moment, but then it also started spinning out of the air.”

Hammonton, a town of about 15,000 residents in Atlantic County, has a rich agricultural history and is situated near the expansive Pine Barrens, a forested wilderness covering over 1 million acres (405,000 hectares).

Investigators will likely focus on reviewing communications between the two pilots and assessing their visibility of each other at the time of the crash. Alan Diehl, a former crash investigator for the FAA and NTSB, emphasized that most midair collisions result from a failure to “see and avoid.”

Despite the cloudy conditions at the time, winds were light, and visibility was reported to be good, according to AccuWeather.

Photo: Debris from a helicopter is shown after two helicopters crashed in Hammonton, N.J., on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP)

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics
New Jersey