Two people were killed Thursday morning, August 7, 2025, after a helicopter struck high-voltage power lines over the Mississippi River near East Alton, Illinois, about 20 miles north of St. Louis. The aircraft, a Hughes 369D, was performing maintenance work—installing safety markers and servicing tower lights—when it clipped the lines around 11:05 a.m. and plummeted onto a barge below, sparking a fire and sending thick black smoke into the air.
No one was on the barge at the time, and no additional injuries were reported. Witnesses described seeing debris fall as the helicopter exploded on impact.
Utility company Ameren confirmed the victims were a contractor and a subcontractor hired for the project. In a statement, the company expressed condolences to the families and said it was cooperating with authorities.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, with NTSB teams arriving the following day to examine the scene.
