A tragic helicopter crash claimed the lives of a pilot and a photographer from local news station WPVI-TV, the ABC affiliate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The crash occurred on Tuesday night in a wooded area of Burlington County, New Jersey, as the news crew was returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore.

The identities of the victims have not been released, as families are still being notified. However, WPVI-TV confirmed that both individuals had worked at the news station for years, making it a devastating loss for the team. The crash took place after 8 p.m. near Quaker Bridge Atsion Road and Mullica Hill Road in Washington Township.

The news helicopter, leased by WPVI-TV from U.S. Helicopters Inc., was a 2013 American Eurocopter AS-350A-STAR. It was last seen over Wharton State Forest before the crash occurred. The New Jersey State Police were able to locate the crash site on the ground.

The cause of the crash remains unknown, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead the investigation. The FAA confirmed that only two individuals were on board the helicopter at the time of the crash.

The news of the tragic accident has left colleagues at WPVI-TV devastated. The crew members had a long history with the station and had been an integral part of the Action News team for years. The news outlet expressed their deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

The New Jersey State Park Police received a call about a missing helicopter in the Wharton State Forest area before midnight on Tuesday. Chief George Fedorczyk reported that a debris field was discovered shortly after midnight in a remote location near Mullica River Road in Washington Township.

Video footage of the wreckage was captured by a fellow Philadelphia television station, highlighting the extent of the crash. The FAA representative will conduct an initial assessment, and the scene has been secured by the New Jersey State Park Police.

6ABC, another local news station, extended its condolences to their fellow journalists and staff at WPVI-TV. The crash is reminiscent of a similar incident that occurred a year ago when a WBTV chopper crashed in Charlotte, North Carolina, resulting in the deaths of meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag.

The helicopter that crashed in New Jersey belonged to U.S. Helicopters Inc. and was contracted by 6ABC WPVI. It was a 10-year-old American Eurocopter AS-360A-STAR, which was leased by 6ABC to capture footage for various news stories. The chopper played a crucial role in covering areas that were difficult to access, as well as providing weather updates, scenic shots, and traffic updates.

The news of the crash is still developing, and further updates are expected as the FAA and NTSB continue their investigations. This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks journalists face in their pursuit of delivering news stories to the public.