helicopter crash kills passenger in naknek river, alaska

On Saturday morning, a tragic helicopter crash occurred in the Naknek River, resulting in the death of a 73-year-old man from Louisiana named Martin de Laureal. The helicopter, identified as a Bell 206B and owned by Egli Air Haul, went down shortly after taking off from King Salmon Airport. The incident took place between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., approximately a quarter of a mile south of King Salmon. Emergency responders, including Good Samaritans and EMS, quickly arrived at the scene to assist those on board, managing to rescue them from the water before the Alaska State Troopers arrived. Unfortunately, de Laureal did not survive the crash, which left the helicopter partially submerged in the river by Saturday night. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, with Chief Clint Johnson indicating that all factors are being considered. The helicopter had departed under Special VFR conditions, which require specific clearance to fly in less than favorable weather. Investigators will examine the weather conditions at the time of departure as part of their inquiry. The NTSB plans to continue its investigation once the helicopter is recovered from the river, either by boat or a heavy lift helicopter. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under scrutiny as authorities work to determine the cause and ensure safety measures are reviewed to prevent future incidents.