Helicopter strikes power line, crashes onto Mississippi River barge killing 2

Two people onboard a helicopter were killed when it struck a power line over the Mississippi River and crashed down onto a barge below, local authorities have announced. 

The accident occurred around 11:00 local time on August 7, 2025, on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River, near the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, just across the river from Alton, Illinois, north of St. Louis. 

The helicopter involved in the crash was a Hughes 369D registered as N173AL, a lightweight and versatile aircraft that is often used for utility and aerial tasks. The model features a five-blade main rotor and is commonly employed for power line maintenance tasks. 

A witness who was fishing at the time of the crash said that the helicopter and its crew were working on the aerial marker balls on the powerline when it struck one and plummeted onto the barge, catching fire immediately upon impact. 

The witness recorded the crash and shared the video on X. The footage shows a fire sending thick black smoke into the air. 

Two people sadly passed away Thursday after the helicopter they were in hit transmission lines over the Mississippi River near Alton, Missouri, and then crashed into a barge.Pray for the families of the victims.pic.twitter.com/KJnlcL1osa— Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) August 7, 2025

Cpl. Dallas Thompson from the Missouri State Highway Patrol informed local reporters that first responders had cleared the area because the crash had caused a power line to fall into the water, but it was later determined that the line was not live. 

The fire on the barge was reported to have been swiftly put out and no one aboard the barge was injured. Commercial shipping on the Mississippi River was temporarily stopped in the area following the crash. 

The helicopter was helping with repairs to a tower when the crash happened. The work was being carried out by a contractor and its subcontractor from Ameren Illinois, a regulated electric and natural gas delivery company. 

“We are saddened by today’s tragic incident. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims’ families and colleagues. We will cooperate with the investigation,” an Ameren spokesperson said in a statement after the crash. 

Firefighters, medical teams and police rushed to the crash site. Emergency responders from a local fire department accessed the wreckage by boat. 

Both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the crash. An NTSB investigator is scheduled to arrive at the crash scene on August 8, 2025. The post Helicopter strikes power line, crashes onto Mississippi River barge killing 2 appeared first on AeroTime.

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