Adam Briggs captured this photo showing smoke rising from a barge after a helicopter crashed into the Mississippi River near Alton, Illinois, on Thursday, August 7, 2025. AP News
Two workers died Thursday morning when a helicopter struck powerlines and crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River. The crash happened near East Alton, Illinois, about 20 miles north of St. Louis. A fire broke out after the impact, sending thick black smoke into the sky.
Authorities confirmed no one else was hurt. The victims were repairing and replacing tower lighting and marker balls on the lines. Officials have not released their names.
Eyewitness Account of the Crash
Adam Briggs, who was fishing along the river, saw the helicopter moving back and forth before picking up a worker with a marker ball. Moments later, he looked up to see the helicopter breaking apart in the air.
“I was in shock and awe,” Briggs said. The veteran and former aircraft firefighter quickly called 911, then filmed the scene as explosions erupted from the barge. “They’re dead. They have to be dead,” he said in the recording.
Work Details and Company Statement
A spokesperson for Ameren, the power company involved, said the victims included a contractor and subcontractor. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims’ families and colleagues,” the statement read.
Helicopter work on powerlines is a known but dangerous task. Aviation experts say pilots must keep the aircraft steady while avoiding the nearly invisible lines.
Risks and Previous Incidents
Hassan Shahidi, head of the Flight Safety Foundation, said weather and wind will be examined as possible factors. Witnesses reported only a light breeze at the time.
Thomas Anthony, an aviation safety expert, explained that powerlines are one of the biggest hazards for helicopter pilots. He recalled hearing from pilots who “dream in fear” about them.
A similar incident in 2018 in Pennsylvania killed two workers and injured the pilot.
Emergency Response
The helicopter crashed around 11 a.m., about half a mile downstream from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam. Fire crews responded from both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river.
Boats from the fire department and a private tug helped put out the flames. No one was on the barge during the crash. The river remains closed to commercial traffic.
Investigation Underway
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. An NTSB investigator is expected to arrive on the scene Friday. Authorities will review the contractor’s safety management system to see if risk measures were in place.
Briggs said the sight was heartbreaking. “Those guys have a very dangerous job,” he said. “It takes a brave person to do it.”
