2 dead after helicopter crashes into Mississippi River barge

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Two people were killed when a Hughes 369D helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River near St. Louis after striking transmission lines Thursday morning. The crash occurred around 11:05 a.m. near Maple Island, causing the barge to catch fire and prompting a multi‑agency emergency response from both Missouri and Illinois. The helicopter was assisting in repairs on tower lighting and safety markers for transmission lines when the accident happened. Witnesses said the aircraft was shuttling equipment to a nearby tower at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported on the barge, and the river was shut down after a transmission line fell into the water, Fox2Now has reported. The NTSB will lead the investigation, which could take up to two years to complete.