two killed after helicopter crashes into boat on the mississippi river

A helicopter crashed onto a barge on the Mississippi River in Missouri on Thursday (Picture: X)

Two people are dead after a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River.

The Hughes 369D helicopter hit transmission lines and dropped onto a barge near Alton in St Charles County,Missouri,around 11.05am on Thursday,according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

A fire ignited at the crash site on the large vessel.

Both people on board the helicopter died,said Alton Fire Department Deputy Chief Matthew Fischer.

The helicopter hit power lines and crashed into a barge (Picture: Adam Briggs)

A contractor and subcontractor with the utility company Ameren were replacing tower lighting and marker balls that cross the river,the company said.

’We are saddened about today’s tragic incident,’ stated Ameren.

’Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims’ families and colleagues.’

No one on the barge was injured.

A blue tarp covers the wreckage of a helicopter after it clipped a power line spanning the Mississippi River and crashed onto a barge (Picture: AP)

The wreckage was confined to the barge,which did not have any leaks immediately after the incident,Fischer said.

Photos from the scene showed a thick gray plume of smoke rising from the boat.

One video shared on social media showed a huge fireball blast.

Edwardsville resident Adam Briggs said he was fishing at the river when the chopper crashed. He observed the aircraft dropping two men off at a tower and was bring gear to them when it crashed.

The barge did not have any leaks after a helicopter crashed into it (Picture: AP)

‘He had one of those balls on the side the helicopter with another worker there,strapped in. So,it was clear they were going to the high-tension line to place that safety ball,whatever it is,in place,’ Briggs told FOX 2.

‘I dropped my head for a few seconds and in that split-second,I heard the impact and glanced up and saw the helicopter had come down and crashed into the barge.’

His account was similar to that of another witness.

Wallace Maier,who was operating a fishing charter boat nearby,said the crash happened suddenly and quickly.

‘As soon as it touched it,there was just an explosion,’ Maier told KSDK.

‘It was just gone.’

The barge was stationed close to Maple Island,which is east of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam.