Minnesota, United States: In a tragic aviation accident Saturday afternoon, a Robinson R66 helicopter crashed and ignited near Lakeville roughly 25 miles south of Minneapolis resulting in the deaths of two individuals aboard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated a detailed investigation.
The helicopter, a five-seat single-engine turbine Robinson R66, went down at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time in a remote, non-commercial area near Highview Avenue and 219th Street West, just west of Airlake Airport. Upon impact, the aircraft burst into flames.
Authorities confirmed no one on the ground was harmed. First responders, including Lakeville police and fire units, located the wreckage and determined there were no survivors.
FAA officials informed People that two people were on board at the time of the crash. The identities of the deceased remain undisclosed as the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office is handling victim identification and next-of-kin notification.
The NTSB is leading the investigation, working in collaboration with the FAA to determine the cause of the crash. Investigators will examine flight tracking data, weather conditions, pilot history, aircraft maintenance records, air traffic control communications, and other relevant evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events.
An NTSB investigator was expected to arrive at the scene on Sunday to document the wreckage, gather evidence, and move the helicopter for further examination.
