Jeffrey Patmore, Michael Higgins Obituary, Death – Authorities have released the identities of the two men who were killed in Thursday’s helicopter crash near Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. According to the Carbon County Coroner’s Office, the victims were 52-year-old Jeffrey Patmore of Terrace, British Columbia, and 40-year-old Michael Higgins of Haddonfield, New Jersey. Patmore had been piloting the aircraft, while Higgins was working as a line worker when the tragedy occurred.
The accident took place shortly after 3 p.m. in Penn Forest Township, in the area of Maury and Fire Tower roads, just north of the Penn’s Peak concert venue. Photos taken from the scene showed the wrecked helicopter tangled among electric transmission lines stretching across the wooded landscape.
Both men were working on power line construction at the time of the crash. Dana Burns, a spokesperson for PPL Electric Utilities, confirmed that the helicopter belonged to a third-party contractor hired for the project. Higgins was assisting with the line work while Patmore flew the aircraft.
The Carbon County Coroner’s Office said the cause and manner of death would be determined following autopsies scheduled at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest. Their findings are expected to provide more clarity on the fatal injuries sustained in the crash.
Multiple agencies have launched investigations into the incident, including the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Carbon County Coroner, and the Jim Thorpe Police Department. Officials stressed that it will take time to determine what led to the crash.
The NTSB explained that once the crash site has been fully documented, the wreckage will be transported to a secure facility for further analysis. The agency expects to issue a preliminary report within about 30 days. However, the final report, which will detail the likely cause of the crash, could take a year or more to complete.
As part of their investigation, NTSB specialists will review a wide range of factors. These include flight tracking data, maintenance records of the aircraft, weather conditions at the time, and the pilot’s licensing and recent history. Investigators will also examine recordings of any communications with air traffic control, review witness accounts, and analyze electronic devices or video footage that may have captured critical details.
The crash has deeply affected both local residents and the broader community of utility and aviation workers. The victims were engaged in a dangerous but essential task, maintaining and upgrading infrastructure that serves thousands of households and businesses.
For now, the families of Patmore and Higgins are left grieving as authorities work to piece together how a routine work operation turned deadly. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by both aviation professionals and utility workers in the course of their jobs.
The investigation remains ongoing, and officials say more information will be made public as it becomes available.
