Update: NTSB says investigation into Mercy Flight crash will take months
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provided an update on Wednesday, April 28 on the Mercy Flight helicopter crash in Elba on Tuesday.
New York State Police Major Eugene Staniszewski said the helicopter crashed into power lines as it went down. There were multiple witnesses to the incident, according to WROC. Weather is not considered a factor in the crash.
Two killed in Mercy Flight helicopter crash in Elba
A retired State Police and Army National Guard pilot was one of two people killed when a Mercy Flight helicopter crashed in Elba on Tuesday after taking off from the Genesee County Airport in Batavia.
60-year-old James Sauer of Churchville and 60-year-old Stewart M. Dietrick of Prosper, Texas were killed when the helicopter went down during a training exercise.
Sauer spent 40 years with the National Guard. Dietrick was a flight instructor with Bell Helicopter.
The cause of the accident has not been determined. Multiple investigative teams are on the scene.
Our hearts are with Mercy Flight Inc. and all those involved in the aircraft mishap earlier today in Genesee County. We stand with them during this tragic time.
— Mercy Flight Central (@MercyFlightCNY) April 26, 2022
Today at approximately 1:00 p.m. EST the Mercy Flight Communications Center was notified that a Mercy Flight helicopter had sustained an accident in the area of Elba, NY in Genesee County during Mercy Flight’s annual Bell Helicopter factory training. (1/3)
— Mercy Flight (@mercyflightwny) April 27, 2022
Mercy Flight Pilot James Sauer and a Bell Helicopter Flight Instructor perished in the accident. Mr.
Sauer, a retired NYS Police Pilot, began working with Mercy Flight in October 2020. (2/3)— Mercy Flight (@mercyflightwny) April 27, 2022
The cause of the accident has not be determined. FAA, NTSB, Bell Helicopter and Underwriter Accident
Investigation teams are responding to the scene. We will provide additional information as it becomes
available. (3/3)— Mercy Flight (@mercyflightwny) April 27, 2022
Two people died in the crash, they were both with Mercy Flight and on a training flight. They had taken off from the Batavia airport and it appears the helicopter hit some power lines on the way down. @news10nbc pic.twitter.com/AAXfxPWJGC
— Jennifer Lewke (@WHEC_JLewke) April 26, 2022
— Christian Garzone (@ccjgarzone) April 27, 2022
This is just HEARTBREAKING. @mercyflightwny Pilot James Sauer died in a helicopter crash today in Elba. We did a story with him when he retired from the @USNationalGuard. He was also @nyspolice retired pilot. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends tonight. pic.twitter.com/OuWKWbLzKz
— Nikki Rudd (@whec_nrudd) April 26, 2022
Our top story this AM- @BriReports will have the latest from the scene. https://t.co/GP0VQPCXpN
— Breanna Fuss (@BreannaFuss) April 27, 2022
ORIGINAL: Mercy Flight helicopter crashes in Genesee
A Mercy Flight helicopter has crashed in the town of Elba.
Mercy Flight is headquartered in Buffalo, New York with locations scattered across the region.
According to scanner traffic, the helicopter is said to have become caught in electrical lines along Norton Road.
As result of the wreck- the helicopter suffered serious damage.
No other information was immediately available. Check back for updates.
BREAKING: Fire, EMS responding to Mercy Flight crash in Elba | Top Story | https://t.co/nEsNPEupif https://t.co/Tomjn8Dznx
— Erie Co. Blotter (@ErieCoBlotter) April 26, 2022
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