Helicopter crash victims Chris Dougherty and Monroe Smith pictured after 6ABC news crew died in New Jersey wreck
HEARTBREAKING photos of the pilot and passenger who died when a local news helicopter crashed on Tuesday night have been released.
The victims were identified as pilot Monroe Smith, 67, and news photographer Christopher Dougherty, 45, both of whom were on assignment for Philadelphia's ABC affiliate WPVI-TV when the helicopter went down in a wooded area in New Jersey just after 8 pm.
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The two were returning from the Jersey Shore when the helicopter started to drop in altitude and then crashed, per WPVI-TV.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration took control of the scene on Wednesday.
Photos from the crash site showed scattered debris, some of which was on fire and smoking.
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The crash occurred in a remote location, which caused limited visibility for responders until daytime.
Dougherty and Smith have a long history with WPVI-TV and the crash has left the station devastated.
"Our hearts are just broken for these men. They're broken for their families," WPVI said.
"We just can't believe this has happened."
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The two men were very respected at WPVI-TV.
"They are described as the best guys that you would want to know, on the job for decades," WPVI added.
"They are highly skilled in what they do. They loved their craft."
Retired news photographer Pete Kane, a long-time pal of the pilot, told Philly Fox affiliate WTXF-TV that he heard of the crash on Tuesday and immediately called Smith but got no answer
"He didn’t answer the phone," Kane told WTXF-TV.
"Then my concerns hit. I know he’d answer if Chopper 6 went down. He’d answer the phone.
"We all have a job to do. He took on the job being a news chopper pilot. He just accepted that job like any other job."
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