The pilot of a small plane killed in a mid-air collision with a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter has been identified as Dr. Paul William Sokoloski, a veteran emergency room physician.
The crash occurred Wednesday evening near the Carlisle airport in Cumberland County. Sokoloski, 57, was piloting a Cessna 150 and was the sole occupant of the aircraft. He held a commercial pilot's license and had nearly three decades of experience in emergency medicine, most recently working at Penn State Health.
Two pilots from the Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, identified as Cpl. Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, were injured in the collision. Governor Josh Shapiro stated that Corman has been released from the hospital, and Mills is hospitalized with a positive prognosis.
Harrowing video footage of the incident has been released, which the Pennsylvania State Police described as a "very violent crash." The video appears to show the small private jet striking the tail of the hovering state police helicopter, leading to debris and the subsequent crash of the jet.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash. NTSB investigator-in-charge Aaron McCarter stated that while the video shows the collision, the reason behind it is still under investigation. He noted that both pilots were flight instructors and communication had been established between the aircraft prior to the collision.
McCarter indicated that there is no immediate evidence suggesting fault on the part of either pilot. He added that Sokoloski was reportedly aware of the state police helicopter's presence. The NTSB is also looking into the flight path of the Cessna, which was described as unusual, and whether the aircraft experienced any mechanical issues. Sokoloski had reportedly been performing maintenance on his plane before the flight.
Sokoloski had previously served in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard before transitioning to emergency medicine and was an assistant professor at Penn State College of Medicine.
