West Virginia helicopter crash: Six dead after invite to pilot ‘oldest flying Huey’ without licence

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the helicopter crash in West Virginia.

The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) confirmed on Wednesday evening that all six passengers flying on a Vietnam War-era Bell UH-1B helicopter were killed after it crashed at around 5pm.

It was not clear who was flying the aircraft, which the Logan Emergency Management Authority described as a utility military helicopter powered by a single turboshaft engine, with two-bladed main and tail rotors, manufactured in 1962.

The helicopter came down near Route 17 along Blair Mountain in West Virginia’s Logan County, and federal investigators are looking into what caused the crash.

The FAA said in a statement following the crash: “A Bell UH-1B helicopter crashed near Rt 17 in Logan County. Six people were on board.”

“The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide additional updates.”

Investigators were at the scene of the crash on Wednesday and according to reports, further updates are expected – possibly on Thursday.

The helicopter that crashed in Logan County, West Virginia, on Wednesday was reportedly the same Vietnam War-era aircraft that featured in the film Die Hard.

The helicopter, which is known as a “Huey”, has appeared in a host of other films includingThe Rock and Baywatch, according to the owners of the aircraft, Mapat Aviation.

While the cause of the crash is not currently known, the Vietnam War-era helicopter involved in Wednesday’s tragedy was reportedly taking part in a charity event at Logan County Airport.

Enthusiasts could pay $250 to ride the ex-military aircraft and a smaller amount to fly as a passenger in the helicopter, The New York Times reported.

The event was honouring so-called“Huey” helicopters, which have a strong following among Vietnam War veterans and aviation fans.

Logan County authorities said severe thunderstorms were forecast for the area at the time of the incident, as Stuti Mishra reports:

West Virginia governor Jim Justice tweeted on Wednesday evening that his thoughts were with the families of the victims of the helicopter crash.

Ray Bryant, the chief of the Logan County emergency ambulance authority, told local news outlet WSAZ the helicopter was in flames when first responders arrived at the scene on Wednesday evening.

The helicopter, which crashed near the Route 17 state highway along Blair Mountain at about 5pm, was eventually put out by firefighters, Mr Bryant added.

The road was expected to remain closed for at least 24 hours as investigators carry-out their work and the wreckage is cleared.

According to authorities, the six people killed in the helicopter crash in Logan County, West Virginia, were not locals.

Ray Bryant, the chief of the Logan County emergency ambulance authority, told news outlet WSAZ that while the passengers have not been identified, they were not local.

They were thought to have been riding the helicopter as part of a charity event at Logan County Airport honouring the Vietnam War-era aircraft.

The charity event at Logan County Airport was the seventh annual “Huey Reunion” organised by the downed helicopter’s owners, Mapat Aviation.

According to the company’s website, the event had started on 21 June and was running until Sunday.

Those aviation enthusiasts who wanted to fly the 1962-built helicopter were able to do so without being a pilot and a $250 donation for fuel, Mapat said. It remains unknown who was flying the aircraft when it crashed, killing six people.

The Independent has approached the company for comment.

A reporter for WSAZ at the scene of the helicopter crash in Logan County on Thursday morning says investigators from the FAA and NTSB are scheduled to visit the crash site in the coming hours.

Shannan Litton also said the wreckage of the Vietnam War-era aircraft remains where it crashed on Wednesday evening, citing crews at the scene.