Pilot uninjured in NC Highway Patrol helicopter crash
A helicopter flown by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol crashed Sunday south of downtown Raleigh, according to department officials. No one was injured.
The crash occurred close to the NCSHP’s helicopter hangar near the intersection of Garner and Tryon roads.
The helicopter was flown by highway trooper B.K. Jones, who was not injured in the crash. There were no passengers on board.
Highway patrol spokesman Sgt. Chris Knox said the helicopter crashed during a training exercise. While returning to the department’s hangar off of Tryon Road, the helicopter struck several trees before crashing in the road.
The helicopter had one person aboard, a pilot who was not injured in the crash, said department spokesperson Sgt. Chris Knox. The cause of the crash are currently unknown, Knox said.
The helicopter crashed into Tryon Road just after 2 p.m. on Sunday, but no vehicles were involved, Knox said.
“We are truly grateful for the health and safety of Trooper B.K. Jones after today’s helicopter crash in Raleigh,” said Colonel Glenn McNeill, highway patrol commander, in a release. “We are often reminded of the inherent dangers our members face as part of their daily pursuit to keep our communities safe. We look forward to a transparent investigation into today’s crash and we welcome all findings that we hope can further our quest for the safe operation of the Patrol’s Aviation Unit.”
Because the crash involved an aircraft, Knox said the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Traffic Safety Board would be assisting in the investigation.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details become available.
This story was originally published November 8, 2020 at 3:58 PM.
