By: The Opinion Updated 20 Nov 2022, 20: 60 pm EST
A meteorologist for Charlotte news network WBTV and a pilot died in a helicopter crash Tuesday afternoon in North Carolina.
According to official data, the helicopter crashed on the side of an interstate highway in Charlotte.
CBS Charlotte affiliate WBTV identified the two people killed as Jason Myers, a station meteorologist, and Chip Tayag, the helicopter pilot.
“Our Sky3 news helicopter crashed on Tuesday at noon with two of our colleagues on board,” WBTV said in a statement.
“Meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag lost their lives. We are working to comfort their families in this difficult time. We appreciate the outpouring of support for our staff and your continued prayers for their families.”
Tayag had been flying the Sky3 helicopter since 2017 and had more than 17 years of experience as a pilot, WBTV reported.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings, said at a news conference that no other vehicles were involved, as the helicopter landed just off I-54, thanks to the fact that the pilot managed to divert the trajectory.
“It seems that the pilot who was operating the aircraft made some movements to avoid hitting traffic… To me, it looks like a heroic incident where the pilot tried to avoid injuring someone else and putting someone else in danger,” he said Jennings.
“If that is really the case, then that pilot is a hero, in my opinion, to make sure that the safety of those driving on the road is not endangered.”
The aftermath of the accident was captured by traffic camera footage from the highway, which showed police cars piled up around of the place of the accident
Both the Federal Administration The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident.
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