VIDEO: At approximately 11:35 a.m. Saturday, Prineville dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting a helicopter crash near the Prineville Airport. Police and fire personnel responded to the scene and located a downed helicopter south of SW Houston Lake Road in the area of the Crook County Landfill.
Emergency responders found two individuals at the crash site, an 80-year-old male pilot and a 46-year-old male passenger. Both sustained serious injuries and were treated at the scene before being airlifted to hospitals in Bend. Their current conditions are unknown.
The helicopter crashed into an open field approximately 200 yards off the roadway. No ground injuries or property damage were reported. It appears the helicopter was privately owned. The scene has been secured, and there are no known ongoing hazards or threats to public safety. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and will take over the investigation.
