Pilot Killed in Horrific Mid Air Collision with Police Helicopter

A Pennsylvania doctor was killed and two state troopers were injured after a small plane slammed into a state police helicopter in a terrifying midair collision near an airport Wednesday evening.

The deadly crash unfolded shortly before 7 p.m. near Carlisle Airport in Pennsylvania’s Cumberland Valley, where a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter was conducting a training exercise.

Authorities said a Cessna 150 approaching the airport suddenly veered and struck the helicopter from behind, triggering what Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Col. George Bivens described as a “very violent crash.”

The pilot of the Cessna, identified Thursday as 57-year-old Dr. Paul Sokoloski of Hershey, was killed. He was the only person aboard the plane.

Penn State Health said Sokoloski was a “valued member” of its emergency medicine team.

The Cessna reportedly broke into multiple pieces after crashing a short distance from the helicopter.

The impact was also devastating for the state police aircraft.

Investigators said the helicopter lost its rotor blades before crashing to the ground and rolling onto its side.

Inside were Cpl. Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills.

Both men initially became trapped in the mangled helicopter, but Corman was able to force open a window and then help Mills escape from the wreckage, according to authorities.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said both troopers were expected to recover.

“Tonight could have been much worse,” Shapiro said during a Wednesday night news conference at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Dr. Ashley Ludwig, trauma medical director at the hospital, said the troopers initially arrived as Level 1 trauma patients. Despite the violent crash, both suffered only minor injuries and were listed in stable condition.

One was expected to potentially be released Wednesday night, while the other remained hospitalized for observation.

Investigators said the police helicopter had been hovering just several feet above a grassy area beside the runway as part of the training operation.

According to the preliminary investigation, the Cessna approached the runway from behind the helicopter before making a sharp turn to the right and striking it.

Exactly what caused the plane to veer remains unclear.

The Carlisle Airport is an uncontrolled airport, meaning there is no air traffic control tower directing aircraft movements. Instead, pilots in the area communicate with one another over a shared radio frequency.

The Federal Aviation Administration arrived at the scene Wednesday night, while investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were also expected to examine the wreckage.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation.