Edmonton

Woman dead, pilot critically injured in central Alberta helicopter crash

Federal investigators have been deployed to Alberta following a deadly helicopter crash Sunday afternoon west of the city of Red Deer. 

54-year-old female passenger died on scene

A close-up of the side of an RCMP vehicle.
RCMP officers were called to the scene of a helicopter crash in central Alberta Sunday at a private landing strip at the Hespero/Safron Residence Heliport. (David Bell/CBC)

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.

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