Three people were killed after an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter crashed in Owen County on Monday night while en route to pick up a patient, according to WLWT. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), three crew members were on board at the time of the crash and all died at the scene.
“Air Evac Lifeteam is heartbroken to share that three crew members from AEL base 133 perished in a helicopter accident in Owenton, Kentucky today,” the company said in a statement Monday night.
“Once on scene, the investigator will begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. Part of the investigation will be to request radar data, weather information, maintenance records and the pilot’s medical records. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators will look at the human, machine and environment as the outline of the investigation,” the statement from the NTSB said in part.
The crash happened around 5.34pm, near State Route 22, about two miles north of Owen County High School in Owenton. The helicopter was travelling to a scene to pick up a patient when the crash occurred, as reported by WLWT.
Kentucky State Police have identified the victims as Gale Alleman, Bethany Aicken, and James Welsh, although their ages were not provided on Monday.
Power outages were reported in Owen County due to the incident, as reported by Owen Electric Cooperative, Inc.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the helicopter crash.
NTSB stated that a preliminary report is anticipated within 30 days of the crash, and an investigator will arrive at the scene on Tuesday.