Helicopter Crashes into Powerlines During Ecological Survey in Missouri State Park
A Robinson R44 helicopter carrying four individuals crashed into powerlines and ended up in the Meramec River at Meramec State Park in Sullivan, Missouri, on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. local time, according to official statements from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
All Occupants Escape with Minor Injuries
All four occupants, including the pilot and three passengers, managed to exit the river safely following the crash. They sustained what authorities described as "minor injuries" and were transported to Missouri Baptist Hospital in Sullivan for medical care. The Missouri DNR confirmed that no fatalities were reported in this alarming incident.
Ecological Survey Mission Turns Dangerous
The helicopter was conducting an ecological survey of Meramec State Park when it struck a powerline, leading to the crash. A group of state park team members and the pilot were involved in this routine environmental assessment mission that took a dangerous turn.
Swift Rescue Response and Investigation
Trained swimmers and EMS crews responded promptly to assist with rescue efforts. Officials from multiple agencies including the Missouri DNR, Sullivan Fire Protection District, and Missouri State Highway Patrol converged on the scene. The MSHP even deployed another helicopter to support rescue and response operations.
Kurt Schaefer, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, expressed gratitude for the first responders' quick actions, stating, "While we continue to investigate, we want to thank the first responders for their quick actions, and we are very thankful that everyone appears to be ok."
Federal Aviation Administration Involvement
The Federal Aviation Administration, which was closely monitoring the situation, confirmed the crash details and announced it would investigate the incident. The FAA stated it would post a preliminary accident or incident report, possibly as soon as Friday, and urged anyone with information about the individuals on board to contact local authorities.
Additional details remained limited as investigations continued, with FOX 2 indicating updates would follow as more information became available.
