Fox News Flash top headlines for April 26
Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.
A medical helicopter crashed in western New York on Tuesday afternoon during a training exercise, killing both people on board, state police said.
Maj. Eugene Staniszewski said that the helicopter crashed in Genesee County around 1:00 p.m. and the two victims were the only people on the aircraft.
Mercy Flight is a non-profit based in Buffalo that transports emergency and non-emergency patients to area hospitals. Its Bell 429 helicopter is housed at Batavia Base at Genesee County Airport, about three miles from the crash site.
Emergency personnel respond to the site of a helicopter crash, Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Elba, N.Y. New York State Police say a Mercy Flight medical helicopter went down Tuesday afternoon. (John Hickey/The Buffalo News via AP)
James Sauer, a retired New York State Police pilot who began working with Mercy Flight in October 2020, was identified on Tuesday evening as one of the deceased. The other individual who died was a Bell helicopter flight instructor, but Mercy Flight did not release their identity.
LA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HELICOPTER CRASH LEAVES 6 INJURED
"It goes without saying that our attention needs to be focused on the families of those lost and on our own employees as we deal with this unspeakable tragedy," Mercy Flight President Margaret Ferrentino said in a statement.
"This is a very dark day for the Mercy Flight family, we are so grateful for the expressions of love, concern and support expressed by many."
Power lines could be seen downed near the wreckage, but Staniszewski said he doesn't believe they caused the crash.
"I don’t believe the lines caused the crash but the aircraft may have struck the lines on the way down," Staniszewski said at a press conference.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are assisting NY State Police with the investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
