Die In Helicopter Crash At Palomar Airport In Carlsbad

The crash happened shortly after 4:15 p.m. on the runway of the airport on 2198 Palomar Airport Road.

The crash occurred at McClellan-Palomar Airport, and FOX 5 reports both people inside the helicopter were killed in the crash.

Erickson was practicing landing at the airport when its tail impacted the ground, the county Medical Examiner’s Office said. The body of the chopper then hit the ground, spun out and went up in flames, authorities said.

Firefighters used foam to spray the aircraft, preventing spilled fuel and oil from burning, before gainig access to the helicopter.

Though North County fire crews quickly responded to the scene, the two people on board have been confirmed dead, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The circumstances of the crash, which prompted a closure of the airport, were unclear, and the victims’ identities were not released.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.