Coverage dated August 19, 2026 to August 21, 2026

Investigators probe a dramatic midair crash as a landing plane hits hovering police helicopter

Headline from Spotlight PA, from the development of Aug 20, 2026

Newest development Aug 21, 2026 · 2 reportsNewly released video shows small plane crash into police helicopter at Carlisle Regional Airport

CARLISLE — Investigators are working to understand why a small plane veered to the side while landing at a rural airport and crashed into a hovering Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, a federal official said Thursday.

Spotlight PA's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Pennsylvania State Police helicopter violently collides with plane, pilot dead: FAA

    Headline from KTLA Los Angeles ·

  2. Names this update

    Investigators probe a dramatic midair crash as a landing plane hits hovering police helicopter

    Headline from Spotlight PA ·

  3. Newest

    Newly released video shows small plane crash into police helicopter at Carlisle Regional Airport

    Headline from 6ABC Philadelphia ·

2 reports not tied to one development ·

Reports & sources

91 articles, oldest first.

  1. NBC10 Philadelphia

    Pa. State Police involved in helicopter collision with plane in Carlisle: Shapiro (opens NBC10 Philadelphia)

    Published

    NBC10 Philadelphia's feed description

    A helicopter collided with a small plane near Carlisle Airport at around 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday night, according to NBC10’s partner station WGAL. The crash involved Cessna 150 airplane and a Bell 407 helicopter, and two people were aboard the helicopter, according to the FAA.

  2. NBC10 Philadelphia

    Pilot killed, 2 PSP Troopers hurt after aircraft collision, officials say (opens NBC10 Philadelphia)

    Published

    NBC10 Philadelphia's feed description

    A Pennsylvania State Police helicopter and a small plane collided over Carlisle Airport on Wednesday night, resulting in the death of a pilot, officials said. The crash involved a Cessna 150 airplane and a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter. Gov.

  3. NBC10 Philadelphia

    Pa. State Police helicopter collides with plane in Carlisle; Shapiro on his way (opens NBC10 Philadelphia)

    Published

    NBC10 Philadelphia's feed description

    A helicopter collided with a small plane near Carlisle Airport on Wednesday night, according to NBC10’s partner station WGAL. The crash involved Cessna 150 airplane and a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter, and there were two people were aboard the helicopter, according to the FAA and the…

  4. Just the News

    Single-engine aircraft collides with police helicopter in Pennsylvania, killing one (opens Just the News)

    Published

    Just the News's feed description

    The Cessna 150 struck the Bell 407 helicopter, which was conducting a training exercise, shortly before 7 p.m., according to Pennsylvania State Police Acting Commissioner Col. George Bivens.

  5. BNO News

    Small plane reportedly collides with Pennsylvania State Police helicopter (opens BNO News)

    Published

    BNO News's feed description

    A small plane has reportedly collided with a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter at Carlisle Airport in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, according to preliminary reports. The incident happened at about 7 p.m. Wednesday, PennLive reported.

  6. We Are Central PA

    FAA: Plane, helicopter collide midair at Carlisle Airport; Coroner called (opens We Are Central PA)

    Published

    We Are Central PA's feed description

    CARLISLE, Pa. (WHTM) -- An airplane and helicopter collided midair at the Carlisle Airport Wednesday evening, federal authorities confirmed to abc27 News. The crash happened around 6:50 p.m. at the airport in South Middleton Township, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson said in a statemen…

  7. 6ABC Philadelphia

    Pa. State Police aircraft involved in midair crash in Carlisle, Pa., Governor Shapiro says (opens 6ABC Philadelphia)

    Published

    6ABC Philadelphia's feed description

    A small airplane and a helicopter collided midair near an airport in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday evening.

  8. WFMZ Allentown

    State police helicopter, plane collide mid-air in Cumberland County; FAA investigating (opens WFMZ Allentown)

    Published

    WFMZ Allentown's feed description

    An airplane and a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter collided in mid-air on Wednesday night, according to officials.

  9. FOX 29 Philadelphia

    Plane, helicopter crash involving PA State Police in Carlisle under investigation (opens FOX 29 Philadelphia)

    Published

    FOX 29 Philadelphia's feed description

    A Cessna 150 airplane and a Bell 407 helicopter collided in midair near Carlisle at 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 19, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Plane and helicopter collide near Carlisle The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that a Cessna 150 airplane and a Bell 4…

  10. Philadelphia Inquirer

    Pennsylvania State Police helicopter and small plane collide and crash; no word on possible injuries (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)

    Published

    Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description

    Authorities say a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter and a small plane have collided in midair and crashed

  11. CBS News

    Small plane, state police helicopter collide in midair over Pennsylvania (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    A small plane and a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter were involved in a midair collision in central Pennsylvania on Wednesday night, authorities said.

  12. Local News 8

    Police helicopter and small plane collide in the air near Pennsylvania airport (opens Local News 8)

    Published

    Local News 8's feed description

    By Aaron Cooper, CNN (CNN) — A state police helicopter and a small plane collided mid-air near a central Pennsylvania airport Monday evening, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and the state’s governor.

  13. KEYT Santa Barbara

    1 dead, 2 injured after Pennsylvania state police helicopter and small plane collide (opens KEYT Santa Barbara)

    Published

    KEYT Santa Barbara's feed description

    By Aaron Cooper, Karina Tsui, CNN (CNN) — A pilot was killed and two state troopers were injured after a state police helicopter collided with a small plane during a training exercise at a central Pennsylvania airport Wednesday evening, officials said. The collision occurred around 6:52 p.m.

  14. FOX 8 Cleveland

    FAA: Plane, PSP helicopter collide midair at Carlisle Airport; Coroner called (opens FOX 8 Cleveland)

    Published

    FOX 8 Cleveland's feed description

    CARLISLE, Pa. (WHTM) -- An airplane and helicopter collided midair at the Carlisle Airport Wednesday evening, federal authorities confirmed to abc27 News. The crash happened around 6:50 p.m. at the airport in South Middleton Township, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson said in a statemen…

  15. New York Post

    Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, small plane collide midair near Carlisle Airport (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Two people were aboard the police chopper, but the number of passengers on the private plane remains unclear, the FAA said in a statement to The Post.

  16. Philadelphia Inquirer

    Pa. State Police helicopter in midair crash with small plane west of Harrisburg (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)

    Published

    Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description

    A state police Bell 407 helicopter collided midair with a Cessna 150 airplane near Carlisle, Pa., around 7:50 p.m., the FAA said.

  17. Triblive

    Pilot killed in violent collision with Pennsylvania police helicopter (opens Triblive)

    Published

    Triblive's feed description

    CARLISLE — An airplane pilot died Wednesday after a violent collision with a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter near a runway at a small airport, but both state troopers aboard the helicopter survived, authorities said.

  18. WKBN Youngstown

    'VERY VIOLENT CRASH:' Two Pennsylvania state troopers injured, airplane pilot dead in midair collision at Carlisle Airport (opens WKBN Youngstown)

    Published

    WKBN Youngstown's feed description

    CARLISLE, Pa. (WHTM) -- Two Pennsylvania state troopers were injured when authorities say an airplane struck their helicopter while they were training at the Carlisle Airport. The crash happened around 6:50 p.m.

  19. ABC News

    Police helicopter, small plane collide midair near Pennsylvania airport (opens ABC News)

    Published

    ABC News's feed description

    A small airplane and a helicopter collided midair near the Carlisle airport in Pennsylvania's Cumberland Valley on Wednesday evening, according to the FAA.

  20. WFLA

    Pennsylvania State Police helicopter and small plane collide midair; no word on possible injuries (opens WFLA)

    Published

    WFLA's feed description

    CARLISLE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania State Police helicopter and a small plane collided in midair and crashed Wednesday evening, officials reported. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was hurt. The crash involving the Bell 407 helicopter, which had two people on board, and the Cessna 150 hap…

  21. Phl17

    Pennsylvania State Police helicopter collides midair with plane: FAA (opens Phl17)

    Published

    Phl17's feed description

    Two people were aboard a Pennsylvania State Police aircraft when it collided midair with a Cessna 150 around 6:50 p.m., a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson said in a statement.

  22. BRPROUD Baton Rouge

    Pennsylvania State Police helicopter violently collides with plane, pilot dead: FAA (opens BRPROUD Baton Rouge)

    Published

    BRPROUD Baton Rouge's feed description

    Two people were aboard the PSP aircraft when it collided with a Cessna 150 around 6:50 p.m., a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson said in a statement.

  23. Fox News

    Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, small plane collide in midair, killing 1 and injuring 2 state troopers (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    A small plane struck a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter from behind in central Pennsylvania on Wednesday night, killing the plane's pilot and injuring two state troopers.

  24. NBC News

    Pilot killed, 2 state troopers hurt after small plane and helicopter collide in Pennsylvania (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    A state police helicopter and a small plane collided over Carlisle Airport in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Wednesday night, resulting in the death of the plane’s pilot, officials said.

  25. UPI

    Midair plane-helicopter collision kills pilot, injures 2 Pa. troopers (opens UPI)

    Published

    UPI's feed description

    A small plane and a police helicopter collided midair Wednesday in southern Pennsylvania, killing the Cessna's pilot and injuring two state troopers.

Showing the first 25 of 43 headlines. ·

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