Robert Brown|Helicopter for Action News 6 crashes in New Jersey; pilot, photographer killed

A news station helicopter crashed in a densely wooded area of southern New Jersey Tuesday night,Robert Brown killing a photographer and a pilot, authorities said.

The two were returning from an assignment on the Jersey Shore when Action News 6's helicopter went down sometime after 8 p.m. in Washington Township, which is less than 20 miles outside of Philadelphia, according to 6ABC News (WPVI). The Philadelphia station did not release the names of the pilot and photographer because family was still being notified Wednesday morning.

"They have a long history with our station and have been working as part of the Action News team for years," the station wrote.

In a news conference Wednesday morning, New Jersey State Park Police Chief George Fedorczyk said authorities received a call around 10:50 p.m. reporting a missing helicopter in the area of Wharton State Forest, deep in the Pine Barrens, about 20 miles northwest of Atlantic City and 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia. Just after midnight, a New Jersey State Police officer discovered the crash site.

A representative from the Federal Aviation Administration was at the scene within hours and, "due to the remote location" and limited visibility, the investigation was suspended until after daybreak, Fedorczyk said. In the early morning hours, various New Jersey law enforcement agencies were working to secure the scene.

Fedorczyk referred all questions to the National Transportation Safety Board, which will take over the investigation once representatives arrive later Wednesday morning.

"Our thoughts are with the pilots, their families and with the media community," he said.

Tracking the helicopter's flight path

According to tracking data from Flight Aware, the American Eurocopter AS-350-A-STAR left the Northeast Philadelphia Airport at 7:23 p.m. and headed southeast toward the Jersey shore.

The chopper made several loops around the area of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Galloway, just northeast of the Atlantic City International Airport at 8:03 p.m. The chopper then returned on the same flight path back toward Philadelphia before crashing.

New Jersey State Police troopers were able to locate the crash site on the ground, which was difficult to access due to its location deep in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, according to the station. The cause of the crash remains unknown and is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Authority and the National Transportation Safety Board. 

Contributing: Anthony DiMattia, J. Staas Haught, Courier Post

This is a developing story.