Latest news with #EastAlton
CBS News
4 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Helicopter crashes into barge on Mississippi River near St. Louis, killing 2 people
Two people died when a helicopter crashed into a barge in the Mississippi River near East Alton, Illinois, north of St. Louis, on Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that the two people inside the aircraft were killed and that there were no other reported injuries. The state patrol said no one was on the barge when the crash happened. The river was closed to commercial navigation following the crash. The helicopter ran into a powerline and crashed around 11 a.m. Thursday on the Mississippi River about a half-mile downriver from the Alton Dam, said Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender. Video provided to CBS affiliate KMOV-TV by witness Adam Briggs shows a black plume of smoke rising up from the barge. Fire, emergency medical and law enforcement personnel responded to the crash, and federal agencies were on the way, Pender said. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. The Illinois State Police Department said the Lewis and Clark Bridge coming into Illinois will be closed for an undetermined amount of time, KMOV reported. East Alton is about 20 miles north of St. Louis.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Two Dead From Helicopter Crash onto Barge on Mississippi River After Striking Power Line: 'Tragic Incident'
The helicopter collided with power lines and subsequently crashed into a barge in the Mississippi River and experienced a post-crash fire, said the NTSBNEED TO KNOW A Hughes 369D helicopter crashed on a barge in the Mississippi River near East Alton, Illinois, on Thursday, Aug. 7 East Alton is roughly 20 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri Two people died as a result of the crashTwo people are dead after a Hughes 369D helicopter crashed on a barge in the Mississippi River near East Alton, Ill. According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, the crash occurred around 11:05 a.m. local time on Thursday, Aug. 7, with two people on board. East Alton is roughly 20 miles north of St. Louis, Mo. During a press conference, Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that two people were deceased. Their identities were not released, and there were no other reports of injuries. According to Thompson, Saint Charles County officials contacted the state highway patrol earlier that morning regarding a helicopter that had crashed over the Mississippi River. "The report said that the helicopter had crashed into some power lines crossing over the river and then fell down into a barge that was underneath," he said. Thompson said that when officials arrived, "the helicopter was on top of the barge," along with a fire, which was put out "very quickly." The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed in a statement shared with PEOPLE that the helicopter collided with power lines and subsequently crashed into a barge in the Mississippi River and experienced a post-crash fire. Officials do not believe there was anyone on the barge when the incident occurred, but they are "still working to confirm that information," said Thompson. As a result of the incident, one of the power lines fell into the water, prompting an evacuation of the immediate area as a precautionary measure, said Thompson. Officials later learned that it was not a live power line. Utility company Ameren confirmed to PEOPLE that a contractor and its subcontractor were repairing and replacing tower lighting and marker balls on transmission lines in Madison County, Ill., when the incident occurred. "We are saddened about today's tragic incident. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims' families and colleagues. We will cooperate with the investigation," said a company spokesperson in a statement shared with PEOPLE. There were no power outages in response to the incident. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. An NTSB investigator is en route and expected to arrive on site Friday, Aug. 8, to begin documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation. Read the original article on People
The Guardian
5 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Two people dead after helicopter crashes into barge on Mississippi River
Two people died when a helicopter crashed into a barge in the Mississippi River near East Alton, Illinois, on Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said. Cpl Dallas Thompson of the Missouri state highway patrol confirmed that the two people inside the aircraft were killed and that there were no other reported injuries. The state patrol said no one was on the barge when the crash happened. The river has been closed to commercial navigation. The helicopter ran into a power line and crashed at about 11am on Thursday on the Mississippi River about a half-mile downriver from the Alton dam, said the Rivers Pointe fire district chief, Rick Pender. Fire, emergency medical and law enforcement personnel responded to the crash. Federal agencies were on the way, Pender said. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. Video provided to KMOV-TV by a witness shows a black plume of smoke rising up from the barge. East Alton is about 20 miles (32km) north of St Louis.
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Helicopter crashes into barge on Mississippi River in Illinois, killing 2 people
Two people died when a helicopter crashed into a barge in the Mississippi River near East Alton, Illinois, on Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that the two people inside the aircraft were killed and that there were no other reported injuries. The state patrol said no one was on the barge when the crash happened. The river was closed to commercial navigation following the crash. The helicopter ran into a powerline and crashed around 11 a.m. Thursday on the Mississippi River about a half-mile downriver from the Alton Dam, said Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender. Video provided to CBS affiliate KMOV-TV by witness Adam Briggs shows a black plume of smoke rising up from the barge. Fire, emergency medical and law enforcement personnel responded to the crash, and federal agencies were on the way, Pender said. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. The Illinois State Police Department said the Lewis and Clark Bridge coming into Illinois will be closed for an undetermined amount of time, KMOV reported. East Alton is about 20 miles north of St. Louis.
