Two Dead After Helicopter Smashes Into Barge on Mississippi River
Disaster struck midday near West Alton, Missouri, as a helicopter slammed into a working barge on the Mississippi River. The chopper hit power lines before crash-landing, sparking a massive fireball that shot plumes of smoke into the sky. Both people on board died instantly, officials confirmed.
Witnesses Describe “Like Something Out of a Movie”
A river worker witnessing the horror told Cedar News:
“It was just dropping and hitting the barge, then boom — fire everywhere. Like something out of a movie.”
Photos from the scene showed intense flames swallowing the barge as firefighters battled the blaze from both land and water. The Alton Fire Department led the emergency response, backed by local and federal teams.
Bridge and River Traffic Shut Down Amid Chaos
Authorities shut the Clark Bridge as a safety precaution. River traffic near the 200-mile marker in St. Charles County is also suspended, causing major disruption to commercial and recreational vessels.
Full Investigation Launched into Deadly Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have begun probing the cause of the crash. While the fire is now under control, recovery efforts and site inspections are ongoing.
