Woman dead, pilot critically injured in central Alberta helicopter crash
54-year-old female passenger died on scene
Federal investigators have been deployed to Alberta following a deadly helicopter crash Sunday afternoon west of the city of Red Deer.
In a statement, RCMP said the sole passenger, a 54-year-old woman, died of her injuries.
The pilot of the aircraft, a 63-year-old man from Lacombe County, was taken by STARS to hospital in a life-threatening condition.
Sylvan Lake RCMP said officers were dispatched to the scene of the crash near a private landing strip in Lacombe County in central Alberta around 12:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, emergency responders attempted to assist the female passenger but she was declared dead after being pulled from the wreckage, RCMP said. Police said she was a resident of Benalto, Alta., a hamlet 15 kilometres west of Sylvan Lake.
Officers remained on site until the scene was surrendered to investigators with the Transportation Safety Board.
In a statement Sunday, officials with the TSB said the crash occurred at the Hespero/Safron Residence Heliport, about 40 kilometres from the Red Deer Regional Airport
Officials said the crash occurred during landing and involved a Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Ltd. 206L-4 helicopter.
