Horrifying moment plane slams into helicopter after veering off runway leaving pilot, 57, dead in ‘very violent crash’

THIS is the moment a small plane collided with a helicopter in a “very violent crash” that left one killed and two injured. New footage shows the police helicopter hovering a few feet above the ground when the Cessna 150 plane slams into it from behind. New footage shows the fatal crash Authorities are examining the crash site for their investigation Credit: Sean Simmers/The Patriot-News vi The fatal collision killed the pilot, who was the only person aboard the Cessna. Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens, Acting Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, said the plane was found “cut into a lot of pieces on the ground.” Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The Cumberland County Coroner’s Office identified the pilot as 57-year-old Dr. Paul William Sokoloski of Hershey, Pennsylvania. Sokoloski was an emergency room physician at Penn State Health, who described him as a “valued” member of their team. The two troopers aboard the helicopter, Cpl. Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, were treated for minor injuries at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Both aircraft fell to the ground in what Bivens called “a very violent crash”. Sokoloski tried to veer the plane away from the chopper but was unsuccessful The troopers were initially trapped in the helicopter following the collision The two troopers were initially trapped inside the chopper as it rolled onto its side. Corman was able to smash through a window and help Mills escape the crash, authorities said. Most read in The Sun The Pennsylvania State Police crew were performing a “hover taxi” maneuver near the runway just before 7 pm when the deadly crash occurred. Sokoloski tried to veer his plane to the right to dodge the helicopter but wasn’t able to avoid the fatal collision. Footage shows the helicopter after the crash Credit: Sean Simmers/The Patriot-News vi Emergency services attended the scene following the crash Credit: Unknown The NTSB, along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are investigating what caused the Cessna to crash into helicopter. Investigators will examine the wreckage, flight paths, onboard communications, the condition of the aircraft, and what led to the Cessna’s sudden change in direction. Carlisle Airport does not have an air traffic control tower, instead pilots are expected to coordinate their movements using a shared radio frequency. Reports indicate the aircraft were aware of one another, but investigators are yet to determine why the Cessna veered toward the hovering helicopter. Witness Lloyd Slusser said the horrible sounds of the impact are “stuck” in his mind. He said: “It was the crash, the loud sounds more than anything, just because it was so loud, it was kind of shocking.” In a statement, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said: “Tonight could have been much worse for our state police family. “Thank God that it wasn’t.” Comment now