Carbon County Coroner Mark K. Smith has released the names of the two people killed in the helicopter crash near Penn’s Peak in Penn Forest Township Thursday afternoon.

The pilot was Jeffrey Patmore, 52, of Terrace, British Columbia, and the lineman was Michael Higgins, 40, of Haddon Township, New Jersey.

Autopsies were scheduled Saturday.

The incident happened at approximately 3:15 p.m. near the power lines. The crew in the Hughes 369D helicopter, was a subcontractor for PPL Electric Utilities, was a subcontractor working on the electric lines near 325 Maury Road.

PPL Electric Utilities issued a statement Thursday night: “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a helicopter accident occurred on Sept. 11 involving two individuals working on our electric lines through a third-party contractor,” the statement

said.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

On scene Thursday were Penn Forest Fire Companies No 1 and 2, Penn Forest Fire Police, Jim Thorpe Police Department, state police and the coroner’s office.

PPL said it is working with the investigators.

“We are actively working with local authorities and first responders as they conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. We can confirm that the line was de-energized at the time of the incident and no power outages occurred,” the company said.

The NTSB is leading the investigation.