IMMOKALEE, Fla. — A helicopter crashed at Immokalee Regional Airport with a student, instructor, and passenger inside.
“It came in as an alert three, which is aircraft accident on the airport or in the vicinity of the airport,” said Robert Mendoza with the Immokalee Fire Control District.
Mendoza said the helicopter that ended upside down on the runway at Immokalee Regional Airport is used for training purposes.
We spoke on the phone with Francois Favart. He says he owns the helicopter.
It’s used by his company Airman Helicopter Incorporated. He says at the time of the crash, it had been rented out to a customer, with a trained pilot also on board.
He wouldn’t say who was in control of the helicopter at the time of the crash.
“This airport in Immokalee, a lot of pilots come out here to train because it’s in the middle of nowhere, nobody’s out here and i’m sure that’s why this company came out here,” Mendoza said.
One of the people in the helicopter was taken to Gulf Coast Hospital and the two others have minor injuries.
“That’s one of the things we’re concerned with is life safety, deaths, and whatnot, so that’s number one concern of passengers and the pilot,” Mendoza added.
The Immokalee Fire Control District is right next to the airport, so crews responded quickly to the incident.
“Since we’re here, like right across the street from the airport, we had our engine there within six and a half minutes,” Mendoza explained.
Were still working to find out what caused the crash, but you can count on us to keep you updated.
