Georgia police helicopter crashes in Alabama river; no signs of survivors
Chilton AL November 17 2018
A helicopter from Georgia has crashed in a river in middle Alabama, and there are no signs of survivors, authorities said.
The aircraft crashed on the Coosa River near Cargile Creek, and recovery efforts are ongoing, the Chilton County Sheriff’s office confirmed.
We are currently operating on a aircraft crash in the area of Cargile Creek, on Lake Mitchell. Please stay away from the area and allow our teams room to work. The scene will soon be turned over to the FAA…. https://www.facebook.com/381826068571489/posts/1974637132623700/ …
The sheriff’s office told AL.com that it’s believed to have been a police chopper that hit a power line and then crashed into the river.
Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, also the city’s public safety director, told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer that the helicopter is related to the Metro Narcotics Task Force, which includes Harris County, Russell County, Phenix City, Muscogee County and Columbus.
The Russell County Sheriff’s Office told the Ledger-Enquirer that the helicopter was en route to Clanton, Ala. for routine maintenance and repair.
The Federal Aviation Administration told AL.com the Bell OH-58 helicopter crashed around 1:15 p.m. Friday, and the number of people on board is unknown at this time. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident.
Chilton County is about 45 miles south of Birmingham and about 50 miles northwest of Montgomery.
Multiple federal, state and county agencies are at the scene.
