It is being reported that five people have been killed in a helicopter crash about 50 miles east of Anchorage, Alaska. The accident occurred at 6:35 pm on Saturday near the Knik Glacier. The Eurocopter AS50 helicopter was flying for Tordrillo Mountain Lodge.
The cause of the crash is unknown, but investigators will be concentrating on mechanical failure or pilot error.
Rescue authorities said in a statement that they received a report of an overdue helicopter and the location of possible crash debris.
A rescue team from Alaska Rescue Coordination Centre was sent to the scene just after 10 pm.
The team found five people dead and a sole survivor, who was taken to hospital in Anchorage. The survivor is said to be in a “serious condition”.
The dead include Billionaire Petr Kellner, the richest man in the Czech Republic.
See here for further details in the Washington Post.
The names of the deceased have been released:
- Gregory Harms, 52, of Colorado, USA.
- Petr Kellner, 56, from the Czech Republic.
- Benjamin Larochaix, 50, from the Czech Republic.
- Sean McManamy, 38, of Girdwood, Alaska, USA.
- Zachary Russel, 33, of Anchorage, Alaska , USA.