ABC-Owned Philadelphia Station News Chopper Crashes, Killing Pilot And Photographer

Greg Evans
·1 min read
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A pilot and a TV photographer working for ABC-owned Philadelphia station WPVI were killed Tuesday night when their news helicopter crashed in New Jersey, the station announced this morning.

“It has been a devastating day for the Action News team after two crew members on board Chopper 6 were killed in a crash on Tuesday night,” WPVI said in a report.

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The helicopter was last airborne over New Jersey’s Wharton State Forest when it crashed in a remote section of the woods, according to WPVI, which uses 6 ABC in its branding.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. An FAA representative arrived on the scene overnight, and National Transportation Safety Board investigators are expected to arrive later today.

The accident occurred around 8 p.m./ET in Washington Township, New Jersey, as the Chopper 6 crew was returning to Philadelphia from an assignment at the Jersey Shore. New Jersey State Police discovered the crash site just after midnight.

The station has not released the names of those who died until family members are notified.

According to WPVI, the two crew members “have a long history with our station and have been working as part of the Action News team for years.” The station was the first in Philadelphia to utilize a news helicopter, launching its first in 1980.

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