Huey military helicopter.Photo: Getty
Six people are dead after a helicopter they were aboard crashed in the West Virginia mountains.
Logan County Office of Emergency Managementconfirmed the tragedyon Wednesday night, revealing that it occurred earlier that evening and attributed the news to the Federal Aviation Administration.
“A Bell UH-1B helicopter crashed near Rt. 17 in Logan County, W.V., around 5 p.m. local time Wednesday. Six people were on board,” the FAA tells PEOPLE in a statement.
All six people on board died in the crash, Logan County OEM Deputy Director Sonya Porter confirms to PEOPLE, attributing the information to first responders who arrived on the scene.
“I am aware through Facebook posts that two families from Logan County are reporting that they had family members aboard the helicopter when it crashed,” Porter adds.
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While a cause is unknown at this time, one hour before Logan OEM reported the news of the crash, they posted asevere-thunderstorm watch, following upwith a warninglater in the day.
“At the time the crash occurred, I think the weather was clear,” Porter toldThe New York Times.
Huey military helicopter.Tom Pennington/Getty
“The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide additional updates,” the FAA adds in their statement.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justicetweeted Wednesday nightthat he was “praying for the families of those killed in this tragic helicopter crash.”
source: people.com
