Deadly Grand Canyon Helicopter Crash
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By Elizabeth Perkin 2/12/2018
After their sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Grand Canyon, three British tourists are dead and three others are in serious condition at a hospital for severe burns and other injuries. The pilot is also in the hospital for his injuries.
The chopper plunged into jagged rocks during a sightseeing flight on Saturday. The three dead tourists were visiting Arizona on a birthday trip. Crews tackled difficult terrain in a remote area to try to recover the victims’ bodies and those injured. They were identified as Becky Dobson, 27; her boyfriend, Stuart Hill, 30; and his brother, Jason Hill, 32.
Courtesy of Creative Commons
The helicopter was on the west rim of the Grand Canyon when it crashed under unknown circumstances on the Hualapai reservation outside the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park. According to Hualapai Nation police Chief Francis Bradley, National Transportation Safety Board officials are expected at the crash scene to investigate what caused the chopper to go down. The Federal Aviation Administration will also be investigating the crash of the Eurocopter EC130,
Windy conditions, darkness, and the rugged terrain made it difficult to reach the helicopter’s wreckage, said officials. Rescue crews had to fly in, walk to the crash site and use night vision goggles to find their way around the crash site.