2 Dead After Helicopter Crashes Onto Barge in Mississippi River

A helicopter that struck power lines crashed into a barge along the Mississippi River in West Alton, Mo., on Thursday morning, killing two people and catching on fire, the authorities said.

The fiery crash happened at about 11 a.m. near the border of Missouri and Illinois, according to the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

The St. Charles County Police Department confirmed the two fatalities and said there were no other injuries. It was unclear if those killed had been in the helicopter or on the barge.

The crashed temporarily closed the Lewis and Clark Bridge going into Illinois, the Illinois State Police said. It was unclear when it would open again, said Trooper Shannon Barrea, a spokesperson for the state police.

Video footage of the crash’s aftermath shared on social media shows a thick plume of smoke rising from the barge.

This is a developing story.