A medical helicopter pilot and flight teacher died in a crash Tuesday throughout a coaching flight in western New York.
WGRZ
A medical helicopter pilot and flight teacher had been killed in a crash Tuesday throughout a coaching flight in western New York, in accordance with state police and the transport firm.
The Mercy Flight helicopter went down at round 1 p.m. close to the Genesee County city of Elba, which is situated about midway between Buffalo and Rochester, mentioned Maj. Eugene Staniszewski at a information convention.
No sufferers had been on board, authorities mentioned. Mercy Flight mentioned the reason for the accident had not been decided, and that the crash occurred throughout an annual Bell Helicopter manufacturing facility coaching.
Buffalo-based Mercy Flight recognized the pilot as James Sauer, a retired New York state police pilot. The flight teacher, who labored for the helicopter producer, was recognized by state police as Stewart Dietrick, of Texas.
A photograph from the web site of the The Every day Information in close by Batavia confirmed smoke rising from wreckage in a subject.
Staniszewski, of the state police, mentioned the Federal Aviation Administration and Nationwide Transportation Security Board would examine the reason for the accident. Climate didn't seem like an element.
Downed energy strains had been seen close to the wreckage however aren't believed to have contributed, Staniszewski mentioned.
“I don’t imagine the strains induced the crash however the plane might have struck the strains on the way in which down,” he mentioned.
Mercy Flight transports sufferers to space hospitals in a Bell 429 helicopter, in accordance with the not-for-profit firm’s web site. The dual-engine plane was housed on the Genesee County Airport, which is rather less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the crash web site.
The corporate known as it an “unspeakable tragedy.”
“This can be a very darkish day for the Mercy Flight household, we're so grateful for the expressions of affection, concern and assist expressed by many,” mentioned firm president Margaret Ferrentino.
Mercy Flight mentioned it briefly suspended operations to let their staff grieve and guarantee different helicopters may very well be safely operated. The corporate mentioned any requests it receives within the meantime will probably be routed to different native sources.
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