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The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Horrified onlooker films after helicopter hits power lines and crashes into Mississippi river, killing two
A helicopter in Mississippi crashed into a barge after it hit power lines, killing two people. Footage recorded by horrified onlookers on Thursday (7 August) shows the aftermath of the crash, as plumes of black smoke rise into the air. Witness Adam Briggs said he was on the shore opposite when he saw the helicopter 'hit the power line' and 'blow up'. The two people onboard the aircraft have since been confirmed dead by the Federal Aviation Administration. No other injuries were reported.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Two die when helicopter strikes powerlines and crashes into a barge on the Mississippi River
This image provided by Adam Briggs shows smoke fills the air from a barge after a helicopter crash in the Mississippi River near Alton, Ill., on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Adam Briggs via AP) EAST ALTON, Ill. — Two people working on powerlines near the Mississippi River died Thursday when their helicopter hit the lines, crashed into a barge and sparked a fire that belched plumes of black smoke, officials said. The helicopter crew was near East Alton, Illinois, about 20 miles (32 kilometres) north of St. Louis, when it careened into the barge on the Missouri side of the river. Authorities said no other injuries were reported. Adam Briggs was fishing on the shore that morning, watching the helicopter zig-zag across the river and eventually pick up a worker with a marker ball to add to a line. After a brief glance at his phone, Briggs looked back up to see pieces of the helicopter plunging toward the barge, then he heard a bang and saw smoke. 'I was in shock and awe of what I was actually seeing, just disbelief,' Briggs told The Associated Press. The veteran and former aircraft firefighter called 911 then starting filming and frantically describing the crash. 'There was a pilot, there was a worker, the helicopter blew up and fell and crashed in that barge and it's exploding right now,' he says in the video. Explosions continued for several minutes. 'They're dead. They have to be dead.' A spokesperson for the power company Ameren said a contractor and subcontractor had been repairing and replacing tower lighting and marker balls on lines. 'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims' families and colleagues,' Ameren said in a statement. The names of the workers who were killed have not been released. Aviation experts say this type of work is common for utility companies, but fatal crashes are rare. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of Flight Safety Foundation, said the pilot must be able to keep the helicopter hovering steadily in place and that investigators will consider if wind or a sudden change in the atmosphere played a role in the crash. Briggs said he felt a breeze but that it didn't appear very windy. Power lines are a key hazard for any helicopter pilot because they can be difficult to see, said Thomas Anthony, director of USC's Aviation Safety and Security Program. Anthony recalled an attendee at an aviation conference who approached him after Anthony gave a lecture and asked if he'd had ever heard about 'the dream.' 'Helicopter pilots all dream in fear' about power lines, the man explained. In 2018, a helicopter crew stringing new powerlines crashed in Pennsylvania, killing two people and injuring the pilot. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, and an NTSB investigator is expected to arrive on site Friday. Anthony said investigators will likely consider if the helicopter contractor had a safety management system in place to mitigate risks. The helicopter crashed around 11 a.m. Thursday on the Mississippi River about half a mile (800 metres) downriver from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam, said Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender. First responders arrived from the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river. The fire department rushed by boat to the crash site and a private tug boat helped to douse the flames, said Alton Deputy Fire Chief Matt Fischer. No one was on the barge when it was struck. The river has been closed to commercial traffic. Reflecting on the accident, Briggs told AP it was emotional to watch and that he has great respect for the workers. 'Those guys have a very dangerous job. They are doing it for other people's safety,' he said. 'It takes a brave person to do it.' By Jesse Bedayn, Sophia Tareen And Rio Yamat. Bedayn reported from Denver, Tareen from Chicago and Yamat from Las Vegas. Associated Press reporters Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota, and Beatrice Dupuy in New York City contributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Two die when helicopter strikes powerlines and crashes into a barge on the Mississippi River
Helicopter Crash Two people working on powerlines near the Mississippi River died Thursday when their helicopter hit the lines, crashed into a barge and sparked a fire that belched plumes of black smoke, officials said. The helicopter crew was near East Alton, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of St. Louis, when it careened into the barge on the Missouri side of the river. Authorities said no other injuries were reported. Adam Briggs was on the opposite shore when it all happened and filmed the crash scene. 'The helicopter was just working on these power lines, it hit the power line, blew up,' he said in the video as flames flashed through the rolling smoke. 'There was a pilot, there was a worker, the helicopter blew up and fell and crashed in that barge and it's exploding right now.' 'They're dead. They have to be dead,' said Briggs in shock. A spokesperson for the power company Ameren said a contractor and its subcontractor had been repairing and replacing tower lighting and marker balls on lines. 'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims' families and colleagues,' Ameren said in a statement, adding that and they will cooperate with the investigation. The collision brought an immediate response from about a dozen agencies in Illinois and Missouri, said Kyle Gaines, a spokesperson for the St. Charles County Ambulance District. The nearby fire department rushed by boat to the crash site and a private tug boat helped to douse the flames, said Alton Deputy Fire Chief Matt Fischer. No one was on the barge when the helicopter smashed into it and the fire has been extinguished, the state patrol said. The river has been closed to commercial traffic. The helicopter crashed around 11 a.m. Thursday on the Mississippi River about half a mile (800 meters) downriver from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam, said Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender. Pender said federal agencies were on the way. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. The NTSB said an investigator was expected to arrive on site Friday. The helicopter, the agency said, was an MD 369, which are typically smaller. In 2018, a helicopter crew stringing new powerlines crashed in Pennsylvania, killing two people and injuring the pilot. ___ Associated Press reporters Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Beatrice Dupuy in New York City; and Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Toronto Sun
5 days ago
- General
- Toronto Sun
Two die when helicopter crashes into a barge in the Mississippi River
Published Aug 07, 2025 • 1 minute read This image provided by Adam Briggs shows smoke fills the air from a barge after a helicopter crash in the Mississippi River near Alton, Ill., on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. Photo by Adam Briggs / AP 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 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. Toronto Maple Leafs World Ontario Editorial Cartoons Celebrity
The Age
04-08-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Melbourne Storm apologise to First Nations people for cancelled Welcome to Country ceremony
Melbourne Storm have issued a formal apology to First Nations communities over the last-minute cancellation of the NRL club's Welcome to Country ceremony on Anzac Day this year. The Storm said it had been in ongoing communication with members of the Wurundjeri community since April 25, when the ceremony that had been slated to take place before the match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs was pulled, causing distress among Indigenous communities. The apology has not been enough for Indigenous rapper Adam Briggs, who rescinded his support for the Storm in 2023 over one of its directors donating to a prominent right-wing lobby group. Briggs said he could never see himself supporting the Storm ever again, as the club was yet to address Brett Ralph's connection to Advance Australia. 'I wouldn't feel welcome there,' he said. In the days following the abrupt cancellation, the Storm took responsibility for what they said was an internal miscommunication. Loading It said the miscommunication stemmed from the board agreeing to reduce Welcome to Country ceremonies to 'major cultural events' only, without defining what a major cultural event was. On Anzac Day this year, Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy had been scheduled to perform the ceremony. Performances from First Nations groups were also planned. The Storm said on Monday that they would have an Acknowledgement of Country before Thursday night's clash against the Brisbane Broncos, part of the NRL's Indigenous Round.
