Missouri Helicopter Crash: Two people have died after a helicopter crashed onto a barge on the Mississippi River near Alton in St. Charles County, Missouri. The incident occurred around 11:05 am on Thursday when the aircraft struck power lines before plummeting onto the vessel. The crash triggered a massive fireball, captured in a viral video on social media, and resulted in a large emergency response from multiple agencies. “The helicopter was just working on these powerlines,” said one eyewitness who filmed the crash. “The powerline blew up. There was a pilot, there was a worker. It’s exploding right now.” The footage shows a dramatic fireball engulfing the helicopter as thick plumes of smoke rose into the sky.
According to The Mirror, one of the eyewitnesses reported that the explosion happened moments after the helicopter hit the high-voltage lines.
WATCH: Video shows fire as helicopter crashes into barge at Mississippi River in West Alton, Missouri; casualties unclear. pic.twitter.com/EBksLLHrXL
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Fire Contained, No Other Injuries Reported
Alton Fire Department Deputy Chief Matthew Fischer confirmed that both people aboard the helicopter died in the crash. However, no one on the barge was injured. The fire has since been extinguished, and officials report that no hazardous leaks from the barge were detected. The wreckage remains confined to the vessel.
“There are no immediate signs of leaks, and the fire is out,” said Fischer. He added that the cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The incident prompted an immediate hazmat and EMS response. Roads near the crash site were closed as a safety precaution. The Clark Bridge and Lock and Dam Way, located along the eastern bank of the Mississippi River in Illinois, were temporarily shut down. However, public access to the nearby National Great Rivers Museum remains available.
A spokesperson for the US Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River told Newsweek that the “situation is evolving” and more information would be provided once available. The Alton Police Department also confirmed it is working an “active scene” but refrained from commenting further.