Two people dead as air ambulance crashes on way to rescue hiker

03 April 2023 , 02:11

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The helicopter crashed in Shelby County with the three crew aboard (Image: Twitter)

Two people have died after an air ambulance crashed during a rescue mission.

The helicopter was responding to a call to airlift a hiker with breathing problems and chest pains, southeast of the Alabama city of Birmingham.

The Eurocopter EC130 crashed near the community of Chelsea in Shelby County, leaving two of its crew dead and sending the third to a hospital.

Shelby County chief deputy sheriff Clay Hammac said: "Our deputies did the best they could to render aid. The helicopter was on fire."

A deputy called 911 to report the crash and said that one of the three crew members was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Emergency crews are at the site of the charred wreckage (Fox 6)

Two others were taken to a hospital, where one of them later died.

The condition of the third crew member was not immediately available.

The hiker was transported separately and made it to a hospital safely, according to Hamma. The hiker's condition is not known.

Emergency crews are at the site of the charred wreckage and law enforcement officers plan to secure the site overnight while the investigation continues.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the crash, assisted by the FAA.

Katie Mansfield