Helicopter crashes into frozen lake in Idaho; pilot killed, 1 hospitalized
Federal authorities are investigating after a helicopter crashed into a frozen lake Thursday in Idaho killing a pilot and injuring one passenger.
The crash involved a Bell 505 and took place at the Ririe Reservoir in the city of Booneville County, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson told Paste BN Friday morning.
The city is northeast of Idaho Falls.
The Bonneville County Sheriff's Office reported multiple agencies responded to the crash about 4:40 p.m. using snowmobiles and found two people inside the helicopter.
According to a statement from the sheriff's office, first responders found one occupant dead at the scene.
A second occupant was taken by ambulance to a hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries, the agency reported.
Man killed in crash identified as CEO of manufacturing company
Bonneville County Coroner Shante Sanchez identified the fatality victim to Paste BN as 59-year-old Bradford Brown from Alpine, Utah.
Sanchez could not say whether Brown was the pilot citing the pending investigation but said Brown he owned the aircraft.
According to his LinkedIn Page, Brown was the CEO at ATL Technology. The manufacturing company is in Springfield, Utah, according to its website, and describes itself as a proud partner to the world's leading medical device companies.
What caused the Idaho helicopter crash?
The official cause of the crash was not immediately known Friday, but according to a preliminary FAA report obtained by Paste BN, the aircraft struck a powerline before it crashed on the ice.
The sheriff's office said it was not immediately known why the helicopter was in the area.
Following the crash, the department said, deputies shut down Ririe Reservoir and the area around the crash site for safety due to downed power lines and unstable ice conditions.
Identities of helicopter victims not yet released
The identity of the passenger on board was also immediately known Friday.
The official cause of the crash remained under investigation by the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board on Friday, the FAA spokesman said.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.