According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, four passengers who were on board a sheriff’s department helicopter perished when it crashed Saturday night close to Las Vegas, New Mexico.
The helicopter was known as Metro 2 was carrying three deputies from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and one firefighter from the Bernalillo County Fire Department at the time of the accident.
Undersheriff Larry Korn, Lt. Fred Beers, deputy Michael Levison, and rescue expert Matthew King were the casualties, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s department said that after supporting fire crews with the East Mesa Fire, the first responders were their route back to Albuquerque.
Approximately 120 miles northeast of Albuquerque, the area was where the New Mexico State Police reported their arrival. The state police said that the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will both be looking into the disaster.
“The inquiry into this occurrence is now in its early phases. More information shall be provided when the cause of the crash is identified.
