Awful moment small plane crashes into helicopter on runway, killing doctor pilot

An emergency medicine doctor was killed when the small plane he was flying collided in mid-air with a police helicopter while attempting to land at Carlisle Regional Airport in Pennsylvania. Dr Paul W Sokoloski, 57, veered off course during his descent in a Cessna 150 and struck the rear of a hovering Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter, which had been carrying out a training exercise beside the runway. Both aircraft were destroyed and crashed to the ground, and the collision has raised questions about air safety at the uncontrolled airfield, which has no control tower.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board say Sokoloski had recently carried out maintenance on his plane and are examining whether a mechanical fault contributed to the unusual flight path he took before the crash. Officials confirmed that Sokoloski had been in radio contact with the helicopter crew and was aware of its position, though it remains unclear whether visibility played a role. Sokoloski, an experienced emergency physician at Penn State Health and a certified flight instructor, was remembered by colleagues as a deeply compassionate figure; the helicopter pilot was also a qualified flight instructor.