According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the aircraft, an Enstrom F-28A and an Enstrom 280C, "collided in mid-air" at about 11:25 a.m. Only the pilots were on board the helicopters when they struck each other. Both helicopters came down in an open field in Hammonton

The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka said the stranded passengers were seen off by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha before boarding an Indian Air Force aircraft to Thiruvananthapuram