On Helicopter Flight, Troopers Get Hit From Behind

A state police training flight at a small Pennsylvania airport ended far from routine Wednesday when a Cessna 150 crashed into a police helicopter, killing the plane's pilot and injuring two officers. The collision happened around 7pm at Carlisle Airport in Cumberland County as the Bell 407 helicopter, based in Harrisburg, was hovering just off the ground during a routine training exercise, CBS News reports. Officials say the Cessna approached from behind along a runway, then suddenly veered right and struck the helicopter's rear, a maneuver the trooper pilots likely couldn't see coming.

The helicopter flipped and crashed; both officers were trapped but one managed to push out a window and free them. They were hospitalized with what doctors described as minor injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into what WGAL reports is the fifth crash at the airport since 2019. The helicopter's occupants were named as Cpl. Bryce Korman and Trp. Jason Mills. The Cessna pilot was identified as Paul Sokoloski, 57, of Hershey. State Police Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens said it was unclear why he "veered hard to the right at the last moment." A witness said the incident happened in front of children.