The helicopter ran into a powerline and crashed Thursday morning on the Mississippi River near East Alton, Illinois, officials said.

Two people working on powerlines near the Mississippi River died Thursday when their helicopter hit the lines, crashed into a barge and sparked a fire that belched plumes of black smoke, officials said.

The crash, which happened north of St. Louis, closed a bridge into Illinois. A witness said it “just disintegrated” after coming in contact with a power line.