CARLISLE, Pa. \u2014 The pilot of a small plane was killed when the aircraft collided with a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter during a training exercise on Wednesday, authorities said. Two state troopers were injured in the midair crash at Carlisle Airport.<\/p>\n
During a news conference on Wednesday, officials said that a Cessna 150 airplane and a Bell 407 helicopter belonging to the state police collided in midair over Carlisle around 7:50 p.m. ET, WGAL<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n The Cessna was descending onto the runway of the airport and veered sharply to the right into the helicopter near the ground, according to Lt. Col. George Bivens, the state\u2019s acting police commissioner.<\/p>\n A Cessna 150 airplane and a Bell 407 helicopter collided in midair near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, around 7:50 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Two people were on board the helicopter. The number of people on board the Cessna is unknown. The FAA and National Transportation\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 The FAA \u2708\ufe0f (@FAANews) August 20, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n The plane struck the helicopter\u2019s rear tail rotor before entering its main rotor, WPVI<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I say it was a very violent crash, that plane was cut into a lot of pieces,\u201d Bivens told reporters.<\/p>\n Gov. Josh Shapiro and Bivens identified the injured troopers as Cpl. Bryce Korman and Trooper Jason Mills, WGAL<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n The identity of the pilot has not been revealed, pending next-of-kin notification, according to WPXI<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Cessna is a two-seat aircraft that is typically used as a trainer aircraft, Bivens said, according to The Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n The pilot of a small airplane was killed and two Pennsylvania State troopers were injured after the plane collided in midair with a state police helicopter near the Carlisle airport in Pennsylvania’s Cumberland Valley on Wednesday evening, officials said.https:\/\/t.co\/BeOsvSofYh<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RNPd2l0dzW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ABC News (@ABC) August 20, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n The occupants in the helicopter were trapped until one of the troopers pushed out a window and assisted the other one out of the aircraft, Bivens said. The troopers were conducting a training exercise when the crash occurred.<\/p>\n \u201cTonight could\u2019ve been much worse,\u201d Shapiro said. \u201cTonight could\u2019ve been much more tragic for our state police family.\u201d<\/p>\n The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, WPXI<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n Carlisle is located approximately 110 miles northwest of Philadelphia.<\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n