2 killed in helicopter crash returning from wedding venue, company says

ATLANTA (ANF/Gray News) — Authorities said two people were killed and one person was injured in a helicopter crash in Georgia late Friday night.

According to the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, emergency crews responded after receiving a call regarding a possible downed helicopter in the county.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that a Robinson R66 helicopter crashed around 10:30 p.m. near Dawsonville. Three people were aboard the aircraft.

Authorities have not yet identified the two people killed in the crash. The third person was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

“It took them about six hours to recover the survivor,” a man who lives near the crash site said in an interview.

That man said first responders used his side-by-side to get as close to the crash site as they could.

“It’s so rugged back there; it’s really almost impossible to walk. So they chain-sawed their way back in there,” he said.

Andy Whitaker, director of operations for Prestige Helicopters, confirmed the aircraft involved was one of its helicopters.

He described the crash as unprecedented for the company, saying it had maintained a clean flying record for 40 years before Friday night’s crash.

According to Whitaker, the helicopter was returning from a North Georgia wedding venue on a late-night flight. He said the pilot had flown the route many times.

Rain and storms were seen on radar in Dawson County on Friday night. A witness reported seeing fog in the area around the time of the crash.

According to Prestige Helicopters’ website, it requires 6 miles of visibility and a cloud layer above 600 feet. It does not fly in electrical storms or heavy wind gusts.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was taking the lead on the crash investigation.