A small airplane pilot died Wednesday after midair collision with a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter near Carlisle airport in Pennsylvania’s Cumberland Valley, authorities confirmed. Two state troopers were injured in the crash but are expected to recover.

The incident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. when a Cessna 150 struck a Bell 407 helicopter conducting routine training maneuvers. The Cumberland County Coroner’s Office identified the Cessna pilot as Dr. Paul Sokoloski, 57, of Hershey, Pennsylvania, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft and described by Penn State Health as a “valued member” of its emergency medicine team.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated during a Wednesday news conference that “tonight could have been much worse.” He identified the injured troopers as Cpl. Bryce Corman and Trooper Jason Mills, both of whom were inside the helicopter when it crashed. According to Shapiro, Corman pushed out a window to assist Mills, who sustained more severe injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration arrived at the crash site Wednesday night, with the National Transportation Safety Board scheduled to investigate overnight. A witness reported hearing the helicopter perform maneuvers before a “huge crash” followed shortly after. The Cessna crashed a short distance away and fragmented upon impact.

Witness Lloyd Slusser, who was mowing his lawn nearby, said he heard the helicopter turn around and execute training maneuvers for several seconds before the collision. He described turning back to his lawn just five seconds later when the crash occurred. His neighbor immediately called 911 after hearing the explosion.

The helicopter, without its blades or tail boom, rolled inverted and crashed onto its side, partially onto its roof, trapping both pilots inside. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.