All four people aboard a firefighting helicopter that crashed near Leesburg International Airport late Tuesday afternoon have been confirmed dead.
The bodies of the crew, believed to be connected to the Florida Forestry Service, were in the custody of the District 5 Medical Examiner’s Office in Leesburg. The medical examiner will perform victim identifications, which is expected to take some time to complete.
The Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter, also commonly known as a Black Hawk, went down around 4 p.m. Tuesday in a marshy area near the airport during a training exercise. The helicopter was owned by Brainerd Helicopters Inc./Firehawk Helicopters, which is located on the airport grounds. Witnesses reported that a piece from the tail of the helicopter came off before the crash, which sent it into a tailspin.
Leesburg Fire Rescue’s crash truck, which is stationed at the airport, responded to the incident, which generated large flames and heavy black smoke that was visible across the airport, at nearby Lake-Sumter State College and for several miles along U.S. Hwy. 441. Crews from the U.S. Forest Service also responded to cut a line around the blaze to help Leesburg fighters keep it from spreading.
A spokesman from the National Transportation Safety Board reported Wednesday morning that investigators had arrived at the airport and were already trying to piece together what took place during the incident. He said the remaining pieces of the downed helicopter eventually will be moved to a different location as part of the investigation to determine the cause of the crash. He said the final report could take more than a year to complete.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the crash early Tuesday night. The agency said it would release the tail number once investigators verified it but added that the NTSB would be the lead agency on the investigation.
On Wednesday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at all Florida Forest Service facilities, offices, forestry centers and state forests in memory of the four helicopter crew members. She said she was devastated to hear of the crash and the loss of life.
“On behalf of the State of Florida, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Forest Service, we extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones and colleagues affected by this immeasurable loss,” Fried said. “These brave souls training to protect our communities will not be forgotten.”
Florida Forest Service Director Erin Albury echoed Fried’s sentiments.
“We are saddened by this tragedy within our wildland firefighting family,” he said. “These firefighters put themselves on the line to serve and protect the lives of others. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and the entire community.”
