Firefighting chopper with 4 on board crashes, no survivors found

At least one person is dead after a Black Hawk firefighting helicopter crashed into a marsh near the Leesburg, Florida airport during a training exercise on Tuesday, CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG-TV reports.

The Federal Aviation Administration said there were four people on the Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter when it crashed around 4 p.m.

Leesburg Fire and Rescue said one death was confirmed and no survivors had been found as of 5:30 a.m.

Fire crews said the crash appeared to be a total loss.

Wreckage of Black Hawk firefighting helicopter burns near Leesburg, Florida airport on night of May 25, 2021 after it crashed with four on board. No survivors were found, initially.

WKMG-TV

Crews said most of the fire was under control and U.S. forestry was plowing a line around the scene to prevent any vegetation fires.

Leesburg Police Captain Joe Iozzi told WKMG officers were able to talk to witnesses at the scene.

“It’s apparent that the helicopter went into a tailspin and at some point, the tail separated from the main body,” Iozzi said.

“The tail actually went onto the airport runway area while the main body of the helicopter went into the wooded swampy area, which is making it difficult for rescue crews to get back to,” he added.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were investigating.