Editor’s note: The video in this story is of previous coverage.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Federal and local authorities are investigating after two people were killed and one person was injured in a helicopter crash in Dawson County late Friday night.
The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, along with fire and EMS crews, initially responded to the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since taken the lead in the investigation of the crash, which occurred in a remote wooded area off 24 Mt. Vernon Drive in Dawsonville.
Deadly helicopter crash: What we know
The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call late Friday regarding a possible downed helicopter in the county.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that a Robinson R66 helicopter crashed around 10:30 p.m. near Dawsonville. Three people were aboard the aircraft.
Authorities have not yet identified the two people killed in the crash. A third person was injured and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Andy Whitaker, director of operations for Prestige Helicopters, the company that owns the helicopter, confirmed to Atlanta News First that the aircraft involved was one of theirs.
He described the crash as unprecedented for the company, saying it had maintained a clean flying record for 40 years prior to Friday night’s accident.
According to Whitaker, the helicopter was returning from a North Georgia wedding venue on a late-night flight. He said the pilot had flown the route many times before.
The NTSB remains the lead agency investigating the cause of the crash. The FAA said it plans to post a preliminary accident and incident report online, a process that typically takes about a day.
This is a developing story. Stay with Atlanta News First for updates as more information becomes available.
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