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Small Plane and State Police Helicopter Collide Midair Near Carlisle Airport in Pennsylvania
Just the facts
A Cessna 150 aircraft and a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter collided at approximately 7:50 p.m. Eastern Time near Carlisle, Pennsylvania, located approximately 120 miles west of Philadelphia. Two individuals were on board the state police helicopter at the time of the collision, while officials have not confirmed the exact number of occupants inside the Cessna plane. Wreckage from both aircraft landed near Carlisle Airport, prompting local emergency services from Cumberland County to secure the crash scene. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed he received a briefing on the incident and traveled to the crash location. The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched two investigators to lead the formal inquiry into the cause of the midair collision, assisted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Why this is news
On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, a small Cessna 150 airplane collided midair with a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter near Carlisle Airport in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. First responders and National Transportation Safety Board investigators deployed to the crash site as runway operations at the airport were closed.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.