Update May 27, 2021: The bodies of all four people who were on board a firefighting helicopter that crashed in central Florida Tuesday have been recovered, officials said Wednesday.
One person was confirmed dead Tuesday night, with the three other occupants of the helicopter being unaccounted for. Authorities confirmed the remains of the other three occupants were also found on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
The names of the four people who were on the helicopter have not yet been released. A medical examiner is working to positively identify the bodies.
The helicopter crashed near Leesburg International Airport Tuesday afternoon during a training exercise.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy within our wildland firefighting family,” Florida Forest Service Director Erin Albury said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. “These firefighters put themselves on the line to serve and protect the lives of others.”
Original report:
LEESBURG, Fla. (AP) — A firefighting helicopter with four people on board crashed near an airport in central Florida, killing at least one person, officials said.
The helicopter crashed into a marsh near Leesburg International Airport during a training exercise around 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a news release.
One body was recovered Tuesday night and no survivors had been found, Leesburg Fire Rescue said in a Facebook post.
“The crash appears to be a total loss,” the post said.
https://www.facebook.com/leesburgfiredepartment/photos/a.472117186252836/2217533951711142/
Hours after the crash, rescue crews were still trying to get to the wreckage to see if there were any survivors, Leesburg police Capt. Joe Iozzi said, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. Officials did not immediately release additional information.
Original story posted at 8:56 p.m. on May 25:
Associated Press
LEESBURG, Fla. — A firefighting helicopter with four people on board crashed Tuesday near an airport in central Florida, killing at least one person, officials said.
The helicopter crashed into a marsh near Leesburg International Airport during a training exercise around 4 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said in a news release.
One body was recovered Tuesday night and no survivors had been found, Leesburg Fire Rescue said in a Facebook post.
“The crash appears to be a total loss,” the post said.
https://twitter.com/WFLA/status/1397369824179798017
Hours after the crash, rescue crews were still trying to get to the wreckage to see if there were any survivors, Leesburg police Lt. Joe Iozzi said, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. Officials did not immediately release additional information.