ALTON, Ill. — Federal investigators are looking into the helicopter crash near Alton, Illinois, Thursday that killed two men. The National Transportation Safety Board says that the aircraft struck power lines and crashed onto a barge in the Mississippi River, sparking a fire.
St. Charles County officials identified the victims Friday as Nicholas Fulton, 35, of Salem, Missouri, and Michael Curry, 37, of Ashley, Illinois. J.F. Electric confirmed Fulton was an employee and Curry a subcontractor. They had been replacing tower lights and marker balls for Ameren.
An NTSB investigator arrived on scene Friday, documenting the crash site, inspecting the wreckage, and moving it to an offsite facility for further review. Onsite work is expected to wrap up today.
The investigation will focus on the pilot, the aircraft, and the operating environment. That includes reviewing flight track data, radio communications, maintenance records, weather conditions, pilot qualifications, witness accounts, electronic devices, and any available video.
Witnesses or anyone with video of the crash can contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, but the full investigation could take up to two years.
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