Investigators are working diligently to determine the cause of a devastating helicopter crash that occurred in the New Jersey Pinelands, claiming the lives of the pilot and photographer onboard. The incident took place on Tuesday night when Chopper 6 from WPVI-TV in Philadelphia was returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore. The crash occurred in a section of Wharton State Forest in Washington Township, Burlington County.

According to authorities, the helicopter went down around 8 p.m. Local law enforcement was notified of the missing helicopter shortly before 11 p.m. The pilot has been identified as 67-year-old Monroe Smith of Glenside, Pennsylvania, and the photographer as 45-year-old Christopher Dougherty of Oreland, Pennsylvania.

The news of this tragic event has deeply affected the media community, as both Smith and Dougherty were highly respected professionals with decades of experience. Colleagues and fellow journalists expressed their grief and shared heartfelt tributes on air. Reporter Maggie Kent emotionally described the victims as "the best guys that you would want to know, on the job for decades," while reporter Katherine Scott conveyed their shock and disbelief, stating, "We just can't believe this has happened."

The ill-fated helicopter had taken off from Northeast Philadelphia Airport before 7:30 p.m. It had flown to an assignment near Galloway Township, not far from the Jersey Shore. Flight tracker data indicates that the helicopter's altitude dropped while returning to Philadelphia, and it was last airborne over Wharton State Forest.

The crash site, located in the remote and densely wooded area of Wharton State Forest, posed a challenge for investigators and emergency responders. Video footage captured by a WTXF-TV helicopter revealed scattered debris, some of which was on fire or emitting smoke. The National Transportation Safety Board arrived at the crash site in the early morning hours and assumed control of the investigation.

George Fedorczyk, chief of the New Jersey State Park Police, reported that an officer discovered the wreckage shortly after midnight. Due to the limited visibility and the remote location of the scene, the investigation was temporarily suspended until daybreak.

WPVI-TV stated that the helicopter involved in the crash was leased from U.S. Helicopters Inc., based in North Carolina. Company officials were not available for comment at the time of reporting.

Emails seeking comment were sent to the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey State Park Police, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

This tragic incident is not the first time that news helicopters have been involved in deadly crashes in the United States. In a similar incident back in July 2007, two helicopters from KNXV-TV and KTVK-TV collided over Phoenix while covering a police chase, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including both pilots and two photographers. In November of another year, a news helicopter crashed in the Charlotte-area interstate, resulting in the death of a pilot and a meteorologist from a North Carolina television station.

As the investigation continues into the cause of this devastating helicopter crash, the thoughts and condolences from the media community and the public go out to the families of Monroe Smith and Christopher Dougherty, as well as the WPVI-TV team who have suffered a grievous loss.