Helicopter crash kills two, shuts part of Mississippi River near Alton

 

Two people died on Thursday after a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board suggest the MD 369 helicopter struck power lines before hitting the barge. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that both people on board were killed and that the NTSB will lead the investigation. An investigator is expected to arrive at the site on Friday to begin work.

The helicopter was involved in work for Ameren Corp, a power company, which stated that a contractor and subcontractor had been repairing and replacing tower lighting and marker balls on transmission lines when the crash occurred. Ameren expressed condolences and confirmed it would fully cooperate with investigators. No one was aboard the barge at the time, but the impact caused a fire that was later extinguished by firefighters.

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The crash has led to the closure of a crucial stretch of the Mississippi River between mile markers 199 and 201. This section, located downstream from the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, is an important route for shipping goods such as grain from Midwestern farms to the U.S. Gulf. The Coast Guard has not provided an estimate for when the waterway will reopen, raising concerns about potential delays in barge traffic.

Coast Guard spokesperson Jonathan Lindberg said the closure could temporarily disrupt the flow of crops and other goods that rely on this transportation corridor. The Mississippi River serves as a key economic artery for the agricultural sector, and any stoppage can have ripple effects on supply chains.

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Authorities are working to secure the site and clear the wreckage before reopening the river. The incident highlights the dangers of working around high-voltage transmission lines and the potential for accidents to have broader economic consequences beyond the immediate loss of life. Investigators from the NTSB and FAA will focus on determining the sequence of events, technical factors, and operational procedures that led to the crash.