Index  ›  defence  ›  NY Post
defence · NY Post ↗

Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, small plane collide midair near Carlisle Airport

NY Post Published Aug 20, 2026 Reviewed Aug 20, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, small plane collide midair near Carlisle Airport
The Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter and a Cessna 150 airplane collided midair near Carlisle Airport in Cumberland County at approximately 7:50 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
Federal Aviation Administration, FAA statement
The Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter had two occupants at the time of the collision.
2 · occupants of the police chopper Federal Aviation Administration, FAA statement
Governor Josh Shapiro was on his way to the crash site after being briefed on the aircraft crash involving Pennsylvania State Police.
Gov. Josh Shapiro, Governor

See more of our coverage in your search results.

A Pennsylvania State Police chopper and a small plane collided midair on Wednesday evening, according to authorities.

The Cessna 150 airplane and Bell 407 helicopter — which photos showed had a state police emblem — crashed near the Carlisle Airport in Cumberland County around 7:50 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Two people were aboard the police chopper, but the number of passengers on the private plane remains unclear, the FAA said in a statement to The Post.

Officials have not yet confirmed any injuries or fatalities.

A coroner was called in, and Gov. Josh Shapiro was also headed to the crash site — as dozens of emergency response vehicles swarmed the scene, Penn Live reported.

“I’ve been briefed on the aircraft crash involving PA State Police this evening in Carlisle and I am heading there now,” Shapiro wrote in a statement posted to social media.

“Lori and I are praying hard and we ask all of our fellow Pennsylvanians to join us.”

Photos obtained by the outlet captured authorities examining the wreckage — the helicopter toppled on its side, with crash debris littering the grass alongside the runway.

Neighbors Patrick Brown and Lloyd Slusser told the outlet they leaped over a fence and ran into the field to help — witnessing two troopers in the helicopter and one person in the plane.

The State police helicopter was flying low and doing maneuvers leading up to the crash, a common occurrence at the airport, the neighbors said.

The Pennsylvania State Police did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

This article was originally published by NY Post ↗. citations.press indexes the source-backed facts above and links to the original. Something wrong? Corrections policy · Report an error