Up to date on: Aug 07, 2025 11:31 pm IST
A large helicopter crash within the Mississippi River close to Alton has sparked emergency response from Missouri and Illinois crews
A large helicopter crash within the Mississippi River close to Alton has sparked emergency response from Missouri and Illinois crews. Movies and preliminary experiences confirmed that the chopper collided with a barge, sparking a fireball. Now, native media experiences state that the barges had been carrying chemical substances and flammable objects.
Reviews additionally point out that the helicopter struck energy strains earlier than crashing into the barge, which was near the Melvin Worth Locks and Dam website.
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Two individuals are confirmed to have died, authorities stated within the first response after the crash. The Alton PD instructed Newsweek, “We’re working an lively scene and haven’t any feedback presently” round 1:15 PM ET.
A number of locals shared visuals from the scene. Thick plumes of smoke might be seen billowing from the burning barge.
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“The helicopter was simply engaged on these powerlines. The powerline blew up. There was a pilot, there was a employee. It is exploding proper now,” one individual famous on X, platform previously often known as Twitter.
Officers blocked off Lock and Dam Manner. The Missouri State Freeway Patrol has additionally closed the Clark Bridge.
“The plane struck the barge’s deck after descending too low, clipping a part of the vessel, and crashing. Witnesses reported rotor blades hitting the barge, inflicting structural injury and a hearth that engulfed each. Native fireplace and rescue groups are extinguishing the blaze and assessing environmental impression. Authorities have closed close by river channels and are investigating doable evasive maneuvers or mechanical failure,” a reporter famous on social media.
