ALTON, Ill. — A helicopter hit power lines over the Mississippi river and exploded in flames and fell onto barges being towed. Two persons aboard the helicopter perished. No one on the Donna H. Furlong towboat was hurt. The towboat crew used its water cannon to extinguish the burning wreckage, which fell into the river. The barges were carrying ethylene glycol, an odorless, colorless, flammable, viscous liquid used to manufacture polyester fibers and antifreeze. The liquid didn’t catch fire. The crash was about 11:05 a.m. on the Missouri side of the river near the Melvin Price lock and dam. The crew on the MD-369 helicopter was replacing orange aviation makers on Ameren power lines over the river.

Towboat. The Donna H. Furlong towboat is part of the 24-bessel fleet of HD Lines based in Paducah, Kentucky.

Helicopter. A medium-lift tandem rotor cargo MD 339 helicopter designed by McDonnell Douglas and built by Boeing.