PHOTO: Pilot Monroe Smith and photographer Christopher Dougherty killed after 6ABC news helicopter crashed in New Jersey
A pilot and a photographer have been identified as the two people killed after a 6ABC news helicopter crashed in New Jersey.
Pilot Monroe Smith, 67, and photographer Christopher Dougherty, 45, had been aboard the helicopter when it crashed in the woods of Burlington County on Tuesday evening.
The two men have long histories with the Philadelphia station and have worked as part of the Action News team for years.
The helicopter crashed near Quaker Bridge Atsion Road and Mullica Hill Road in Washington Township around 8 p.m.
According to NBC Philadelphia, it was last seen in the air over Wharton State Forest, where it was last recorded just 75 feet above the ground.
Photographer Christopher Dougherty (left) and pilot Monroe Smith (right) were aboard the helicopter when it crashed in a wooded area of Burlington County on Tuesday evening.
The two men have long histories with the station and have worked as part of the Action News team for years
A news helicopter from Philadelphia captured images of the crash site, which is extremely difficult to access because it is deep in the woods.
Officials were contacted about a missing helicopter around 11 p.m. Tuesday, a few hours before a state park police officer found a field of debris.
The crash site is part of the Pinelands, a million-acre wilderness area spanning seven counties and filled with dense forests and rivers.
New Jersey State Police rushed to the scene to close the case and the Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation.
New Jersey State Park Police Chief George Fedorczyk said the investigation was suspended overnight Tuesday due to poor visibility.
Fedorczyk said: “Due to the remote location of the crime scene and limited visibility, it was decided at that time that the investigation would be suspended until sometime after dawn.
“Know that our thoughts are with the pilots, their families and the media community.”
According to 6abca National Transportation Safety Board investigator will begin processing and documenting the scene Thursday morning.
NTSB spokesperson Jennifer Gabris said, “During the on-scene phase of the investigation process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate as to the cause of the accident.”
New Jersey State Police rushed to the scene to close the case and the Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation
According to 6abc, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator will begin processing and documenting the scene Thursday morning
Another news helicopter captured footage of the crash site, seen here, which is extremely difficult to access as it is deep in the forest
The helicopter was last in the air over Wharton State Forest on Tuesday evening around 8 p.m
In a statement, 6ABC said: “We are devastated by the news that two of our extended 6ABC family members were killed last night when Chopper 6 crashed while returning from an assignment in the Jersey Shore.
“Our hearts break as we send our deepest condolences and prayers to their families, loved ones and everyone at US Helicopters.”
NBC10 Philadelphia said in a statement, “Our hearts are with the families of Monroe Smith and Christopher Dougherty.”
Reporter Katherine Scott said: “Our hearts are just broken for these men. They are heartbroken for their families. We just can't believe this happened.”
6abc had leased the helicopter, a 2013 American Eurocopter AS-350, from US Helicopters Inc in North Carolina.
In a statement the company said: 'We deeply sympathize with their families and share in their grief as a result of this tragic event.
“We will share arrangements in accordance with the families' wishes. We will work with the FAA and other authorities as they investigate and are still gathering information, so we cannot comment or provide further information about the cause of this tragedy.
It is currently unclear what caused the devastating crash, and investigators are now investigating the reasons
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of our dear colleagues.”
Chopper 6 is used by the news team to access areas that are difficult to reach on site.
It helps collect news such as weather and aerial footage after incidents on the road.
It comes just over a year after two WBTV employees in Charlotte, North Carolina, died in a horrific helicopter crash.
Meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag were found dead after the helicopter they were traveling in crashed along Interstate 77.