Lakeville police and federal aviation officials are investigating a fatal helicopter crash that occurred Saturday afternoon west of Airlake Airport.
Police have yet to publicly disclose the number of people who were in the helicopter, which crashed at about 2:45 p.m. First responders found no evidence of survivors when they arrived at the scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board was called to the scene and identified the downed helicopter as a Robinson R66, which is a five-seat, single-engine helicopter used mostly for tours and corporate transport.
Flightaware records show one such helicopter that took off at 2:35 p.m. from Sky Park in Lydia, Minn., south of Prior Lake, and flew eight minutes east toward Lakeville. The million-dollar helicopter was among 14 displayed earlier in the day at an expo at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie.
The crash occurred west of Highview Avenue near 219th Street, in an area free of homes or businesses, according to a statement from Lakeville police. No one on the ground appeared to have been hurt in the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration and NTSB will lead the investigation into the cause and nature of the crash.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the identities of the victims later in the course of the investigation.
This is a developing story. Check back with the Minnesota Star Tribune for further information.
