INDEPENDENCE — Investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Independence Police Department are working to find out what made a helicopter crash at a local airport on Tuesday afternoon.
A University of Dubuque student was one of the people sent to the hospital following the crash.
Local 5 has confirmed with the Independence Fire Department that their crews were called to a helicopter crash on Tuesday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. at the Independence Municipal Airport. When they arrived on scene, they found a helicopter laying on its side with the front end destroyed. The pilot was transported to a local hospital.
According to the university, two people were hospitalized after the aircraft that crashed at the Independence Municipal Airport. The school runs a pilot training program. A student pilot was injured, according to the university, but that person is expected to survive. However, there is still no word on how serious the second victim’s injuries are. Officials said that they will review security video from the airport.
The helicopter was privately owned and officials aren’t yet revealing who owns the helicopter and where it was going. The cause of the crash has not been determined either. FAA officials will be working the investigation on Wednesday.