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A routine maintenance flight went wrong on Thursday when a helicopter crashed into a Mississippi River barge after hitting power lines, killing the two occupants and temporarily closing one of the United States’ key shipping routes.
Tragic Mid-Air Collision
As per initial reports from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the MD 369 helicopter had struck power lines prior to descending on the barge. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had established that there were two individuals on board during the crash. Both victims remain unidentified at this point.
The NTSB is heading up the investigation, with a investigator set to arrive on the scene Friday to study the wreckage and surrounding area for evidence.
Maintenance Work Turns Fatal
Utility company Ameren Corp said the helicopter crew consisted of a contractor and subcontractor working to repair and replace tower lights and marker balls on transmission lines that cross the river.
“We are dismayed about today’s tragic accident,” Ameren said in a release, committing complete cooperation with federal investigators.
Barge Fire Halted Within Minutes
No personnel were on the barge at the time of the collision. Coast Guard representative Jonathan Lindberg stated that the collision ignited a fire aboard the boat, which was quickly doused by firefighters. No further injuries were reported.
Shipping Halt on a Vital Trade Corridor
The Mississippi River was closed to all traffic between mile markers 199 and 201 after the accident. The section is downstream of where the Mississippi meets the Illinois River, an important crossing for agricultural exports.
The closure may short-term hold back the barges carrying grain and other commodities from farms in the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico, a disruption that would cascade through the supply chain for commodities. There is no set time for the waterway to be reopened.
Economic Impact Looms
The closure illustrates how inland waterway accidents can cause immediate bottlenecks in the US transportation system. The Mississippi is a mainstay of farm exports, energy shipments, and raw material flow. Even a brief shutdown translates into delays for shippers and increased expenses for shippers racing to find substitutes.
As federal authorities sort out the events surrounding the crash, the people of Alton and the shipping community as a whole hangs in the balance, waiting for explanations of what occurred and how it can be avoided.
