This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/three-british-people-killed-helicopter-crash-grand-canyon-foreign-office-a8205906.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Three British people killed in helicopter crash at the Grand Canyon | Three British people killed in helicopter crash at the Grand Canyon |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three British people have died and three others are injured after a helicopter crashed in the Grand Canyon in the US state of Arizona. | Three British people have died and three others are injured after a helicopter crashed in the Grand Canyon in the US state of Arizona. |
| The Foreign Office confirmed the deaths and said it was supporting the families of six Britons involved in the accident, which took place shortly after 5pm on Saturday. | |
| Six passengers and a pilot were on board the helicopter, owned by Nevada-based company Papillon Group, when it crashed into jagged rocks by the Grand Canyon’s West Rim, according to the Associated Press. It is not clear what caused the crash. | |
| A witness told reporters he saw flames and black smoke spewing from the crash site, heard explosions and saw victims who were bleeding and badly burned. | |
| Crews reportedly had to be flown in and the survivors were airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital. Darkness, windy conditions and the fact that it was a remote area made it difficult for rescuers to reach the wreckage. | Crews reportedly had to be flown in and the survivors were airlifted to a Las Vegas hospital. Darkness, windy conditions and the fact that it was a remote area made it difficult for rescuers to reach the wreckage. |
| Police chief Francis Bradley told CNN: “We are having difficulties getting the four people out of the crash site area to the hospital. It is too windy and it’s dark and the area is very rugged.” | Police chief Francis Bradley told CNN: “We are having difficulties getting the four people out of the crash site area to the hospital. It is too windy and it’s dark and the area is very rugged.” |
| CEO of the Papillon Group Brenda Halvorson said in a statement Sunday that the company was extending its heartfelt sympathy to the families involved in the accident. | CEO of the Papillon Group Brenda Halvorson said in a statement Sunday that the company was extending its heartfelt sympathy to the families involved in the accident. |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are providing support to the families of six British visitors involved in a helicopter accident at the Grand Canyon on February 10, and we are in close contact with the US emergency services.” | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are providing support to the families of six British visitors involved in a helicopter accident at the Grand Canyon on February 10, and we are in close contact with the US emergency services.” |