Pilot best friends die after their helicopters collided in mid-air just after they’d eaten breakfast together at local cafe

The two pilots, who lost their lives in the collision of their helicopters in New Jersey, had breakfast for the last time at a cafe they often went to before take-off because they were friends.

Kenneth Kirsch, 65, and Michael Greenberg, 71, were identified as the pilots involved in the fatal crash that occurred around 11:30 a.m. Sunday in Hammonton.

Eyewitnesses said the Enstrom 280C flown by Greenberg and the Enstrom F-28A flown by Kirsch were flying close to each other just before the collision, and one of the helicopters was sent to a wooded area in the 100 block of Basin Road and the other was sent to a field near Hammonton Municipal Airport.

Kirsch was airlifted to a hospital in Camden, where he died today from his injuries, while Greenberg was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a press release by the Hammonton Police Department.

Owner Sal Silipino said the couple was seen eating breakfast at Apron Cafe shortly before the crash. WTXF.

Kirsch and Greenberg often stopped by the airport cafe before their departure.

Silipino watched the helicopters leave the airport and was horrified as the planes descended in a spiral pattern.

‘It was shocking. I’m still shaking to see this happen,” Silipino told the outlet. ‘They were just having breakfast in our cafe.’

Eyewitnesses said they saw the helicopters flying close together before crashing

‘They are regulars. They come every week or every two weeks. They fly together. They seem like very nice people. ‘They were also very kind to the workers and staff.’

The pilot’s friendship was echoed by Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel, who told the News Channel: ‘Apparently they were friends, flying into the airport, eating together at the cafe and leaving together. Friends.’

Both men received their private pilot licenses in 2014, according to FAA records.

Eyewitness footage showed a helicopter spinning out of control before crashing into the ground.

Another video posted on social media from a nearby Tractor Supply parking lot showed thick black smoke billowing from the crash scene.

Hammonton resident Dan Dameshek said: NBC10 As he was leaving the gym he heard a loud noise and saw two helicopters going out of control: ‘The first helicopter immediately moved upside down from the right side and began to spin rapidly and fall out of the air.’

Kirsch was airlifted to a hospital in Camden, where he died today from his injuries, while Greenberg was pronounced dead at the scene.

An inspection of the crash scene was conducted Monday by National Transportation Safety Board investigators.

‘Then for a moment it looked like the second helicopter was OK, then another noise was heard or something, and then the helicopter started circling rapidly in the air.’

Another witness, Caitlyn Collins, told WPVI that one of the helicopters crashed in her backyard.

Collins rushed there with her husband, a neighbor and an off-duty police officer and found the man conscious, breathing and ‘just looking around’.

“All I could think to do was hold his hand and talk to him, so I laid down on the floor next to him and said, ‘Hey, we’re here, don’t worry.'” he said to the outlet.

The crash scene was examined Monday by investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board.

It is expected that the helicopters will be taken from the accident scene tomorrow and brought to a different location for further investigation.

A spokesman said the debris field was about 100 meters long and contained parts of the main rotors and tail rotors. Associated Press.

The helicopters are expected to be removed on Tuesday and taken to another location for further inspection.

The NTSB said a preliminary report is expected in about 30 days.

New Jersey Acting Governor Tahesha Way said she was informed of the accident and was monitoring the situation.

Hammonton has a population of 15,000 and is located 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia.